Meet the Candidate: Bill Cocks

In his most recent term, Cocks was the council representative on the City Centre Development Agency and was chair of the Energy and Utilities Committee. He says one of his focuses if re-elected will be on the balance between service levels and taxation levels. He says the collapse of oil and gas prices affected the cities ability to deliver services to its residents.

“This council has had to look very seriously at the services we provide, why we provide them, who we provide them too, and at what cost, and how much of that is appropriately shared by the taxpayer, and how much of that has to be borne by the user of the service,” he said.

Cocks, along with Jamie McIntosh and Mayor Ted Clugston, were the only three to vote against returning Medicine Hat Transit to the previous system at the city council meeting on Sept. 18. While Cocks acknowledges the system implemented by the city was “missing the mark,” he says flipping it back to the old system was not the ideal solution, saying the system sped up ride time for passengers. Cocks is, however, in favour of adjustments to transit to fix any issues which crop up

“We were going to have to make adjustments, we were going to have to increase service levels on weekends and evenings in particular,” he said. “There were many things about the new routing system, that while they were confusing to people because they were new, did improve service levels. I think we made a good step when we put our buses going both directions on the route, rather than doing big loops.”

With 19 candidates seeking eight seats around the council table, Cocks believes his experience as a councillor, lawyer and life-long Hatter, sets him apart.

“I’ve seen a lot of issues across the political trail,” he said. “I think I have a good track record when it comes to handling those issues. You’re not going to please everybody all of the time, but I believe my sincerity, my integrity in the decision-making process is intact and that people respect me for that.”

by CHAT News Today

Meet the Candidate: Bill Cocks

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