Medicine Hat city councillor McGrogan looks to use leadership experience if elected mayor

“Basically, my motivation is really to just help lead and bring some confidence back to the community that Medicine Hat is set in the right direction, and that there’s solid, mature leadership at the top.”

McGrogran is the second candidate to put their name forward to run for mayor after registering Tuesday.

The first term councillor had the second most votes by a councilor in the 2021 civic election behind only Ramona Robins.

McGrogan started with the Medicine Hat Police Service in 1980 when he was 21-years old, serving as chief from 2008 to 2020.

He said you learn a lot in that position.

“I was our tactical team commander, which is the leading position. I was staff sergeant, inspector. So, all the way through the ranks and of course, got to work closely with the city administration on some issues. It all just comes together as a big bundle of experience,” McGrogan said.

He also served as the president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, and sat on the board for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police as Alberta’s representative.

“I’m not saying that just because of that I’d be a decent mayor, but I think it’s really the leadership piece. So are you coming in at this with a humble spirit and willing to work and put the time in and respect everybody and just do the job,” McGrogan said.

“I think I’m ready for that. Looking forward to it. I think I’m blessed really at this time of my life to actually be considered. So, I’m just going to do my best and that’s all I can do.”

The 66-year old said he is hopeful the current council has got through a long run of disputes and disagreements.

“It’s a tremendous learning experience, hopefully for all of them. But again, I can only speak for myself. I learned a ton, I thought I was done learning. I thought I’d learned all I could as an old man. I just keep learning,” McGrogan said.

“You learn at different stages of your life, and I think this council has learned, I can’t speak for them, but a great deal through this. Some of it’s been not very good. It’s been horrible, but things like, we did the municipal inspection. I think we’re heading in the right direction,” he added.

“Whatever the election brings is what it does. If the people of Medicine Hat choose to put me in that position, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s completely the prerogative of the voter.”

Having the support of a few incumbent councilors coming into the position in 2021 was something McGrogan found beneficial with the learning curve.

“Thank goodness for Councillors [Darren] Hirsch and [Robert] Duminowski. They were the two experienced members and it is a tough learning experience. I leaned on their experience for the full four years. They’ve been here and done it,” McGrogan said.

“There’s past council members that are thinking about running for council again. I think that would be excellent. Whoever we end up with, hopefully all can just work together,” he added.

“We’re not always going to agree as a group, but let’s do the best we can, and at least we respect each other, respect each other’s decisions. Everybody comes at council from a little different perspective and that’s excellent. I love that.”

McGrogan said that he looks at his four years on council like an apprenticeship for mayor.

“I’ve spent four years kind of seeing what it takes to be a council member and observing the mayor, which their role is not a lot different,” McGrogan said.

“I see the mayor as somebody that’s collaborating and working with council, because really it’s the will of council at the end of the day that actually pushes things forward,” he added.

“I think I’ve served my apprenticeship. I think an electrical apprenticeship is four years and this could be considered similar. So I’ve put the four years in. I think it’s extremely important to do the time as a council member before you run for mayor.”

McGrogan said he’s made mistakes along the way as a member of council.

“Some of the decisions that I’ve made, I regret, but that’s all part of the learning journey,” McGrogan said.

If elected as mayor, an area he said needs attention is new growth in Medicine Hat.

“We need to grow our community and bring some business back here, we were short on business opportunities. We need to attract business here,” McGrogan said.

“I don’t want to get into the campaign, but there’s lots that we can do. What we have done, I think we’ve been distracted a lot with issues that are not important to the taxpayer. That’s where I’m motivated to change that,” he added.

“All focus should be on the taxpayers, citizens of Medicine Hat.”

The deadline for candidates to register for the fall election is September 22.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat city councillor McGrogan looks to use leadership experience if elected mayor

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