Clayton Stevens filed his papers on Thursday to register as a candidate for councilor in Medicine Hat's fall civic election. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

ELXN25

Stevens files paperwork to run for councilor in Medicine Hat, looking to help people

Aug 1, 2025 | 8:52 AM

Clayton Stevens is the eighth candidates to file papers to run for councilor in Medicine Hat for the fall civic election.

The 45-year old officially registered on July 31.

Stevens is the owner and operator of Starlite Convenience Store in the flats area of the city with his wife, and also a taxi driver with Care Cab.

—

Starlite convenience store in the flats areas of Medicine Hat. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

WHAT'S ON

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in December

Nov 30, 2025

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: November 28-30

Nov 28, 2025

IN THE COMMUNITY

Organizations in Medicine Hat and area receive donation from energy company

Nov 25, 2025

Spending most of his life on a farm near Hays and living in Medicine Hat for the last eight years, Stevens said he is familiar with the city and area.

“I work in the store during the day I see a lot of the social issues in this city through a different vantage point than most other people in this city get to see it,” Stevens said.

“I think I can use these experiences to maybe help other people that live in Medicine Hat improve their lives,” he added.

“I am in contact with so many different people throughout the day and I hear so many different issues that I think I can be a real voice for the city.”

Stevens said the issues they had in the flats, and the three years of battling with city hall, city council, and the police, finally got to the point he decided it’s either sit here and complain about it, or do something about it.

“I joined with a bunch of other people down here in the flats, and it took three years, but we eventually had the Mustard Seed down here shut down, which has definitely been a boost to the community,” Stevens said.

“After the process we went through doing that, I realized that this area, Riverside, the Southeast hill, Crescent Heights, doesn’t have a voice in this city, and instead of complaining about it, I’m going to do something about it.”

—

READ: The Mustard Seed still dedicated to Medicine Hat’s vulnerable starts mobile outreach

—

Stevens said he didn’t like how long it took to get the Mustard Seed situation in the flats taken care of.

“I want to be able to go in and make a change so that these people down here when they have such drastic issues like we have, don’t have to go through a three-year nightmare like we did,” Stevens said.

—

READ: Medicine Hat city manager Mitchell placed on temporary paid leave by council

—

Stevens said he is supportive of city council placing city manager Ann Mitchell on a temporary paid leave.

“I do believe that over the last couple of years seeing how the city has been operated and hearing, the stories that come out of city hall. It’s definitely something that needed to be done,” Stevens said.

“It’s a shame. It took as long as it did to get to this point because I believe the situations that she caused have definitely hindered the city from actually performing any duties that would have helped us out in the failing economy that we have,” he added.

“They were too busy in fighting and It’s a sad situation.”

Stevens said with him being a small business owner in the flats, he deals with so many people from different aspects of society.

“I believe I will be a good voice for this city and I’m willing to stand up for what I honestly believe is right,” Stevens said.

“I hope that people in this city realize that and they’re willing to vote for me.”