MEDICINE HAT, AB — Councillor Julie Friesen is seeking re-election.
Friesen announced Tuesday she is seeking her eighth term on city council in the 2017 civic election.
“I would like to ask the people of Medicine Hat for the privilege of representing them in the next term of councillor,” she said on Tuesday.
Friesen first served on city council from 1989 to 1992, and was elected again from 1998-2010. After unsuccessfully running for mayor in 2010, she was re-elected to council in 2013.
Friesen says she is proud of her work on the most recent term with council, saying there’s a “growing vibrancy” in the city.
“I feel that for one more term, I’d like to be a part of completing the visions that we’ve had for the city, and undertaking some new things, and I think I’ve got the knowledge, the skills, the background, the experience to be able to help with the leadership moving forward.”
Friesen says council’s priorities should include continuing being fiscally responsible, but also provide a high quality of life for city residents. Friesen adds she wants to see more engagement of young people in the city by council.
She joins fellow councillors Robert Dumanowski, Bill Cocks, Les Pearson, Jim Turner and Brian Varga in seeking re-election this fall.
They’re joined by former councillor Phil Turnbull, along with Charles Turner, Jim Black and Myles Mulholland, who have all registered as candidates.
To date, Mayor Ted Clugston is the only candidate for mayor in the election.
Councillors Jamie McIntosh and Celina Symmonds have not indicated if they will seek re-election.
The deadline for candidates to register is September 18 at noon at City Hall.
The civic election is October 16.
