The Melfort Trade Alliance hosted a municipal all candidates forum to give mayoral and council hopefuls the platform to broadcast their views on city issues (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

By Aaron Schulze

Melfort Mayoral Race

Little difference in mayoral pitches, but Melfort candidates emphasize their respective leadership

Oct 22, 2020 | 5:18 PM

An all candidates forum hosted by the Melfort Trade Alliance on Oct. 21 allowed the city’s mayoral and council candidates to unveil their thoughts on municipal issues.

As the two-hour, socially distant, livestream forum rolled on, one theme developed between the two mayoral candidates.

The Incumbent Rick Lang and challenger, Councillor Glenn George, agreed on nearly every question brought forth by Melfort residents.

Both agreed on continuing to lobby for federal funding to help repair water lines in the city instead of borrowing millions instantly, not pay for an extra RCMP officer in the municipal budget, and to continue following current incentives to attract and retain businesses. Lang and George also said the council and administration have shown responsibility in keeping tax increases low by finding efficiencies in the budget and said a tax freeze likely wouldn’t be possible.

The main disagreement that stood out was a civil one regarding the future of Melfort’s public library. Lang suggested either building a library on to the Kerry Vickar Centre or creating a shared facility with a new school build in Melfort with Brunswick and Reynolds potentially being replaced soon. George suggested making the Historic Post Office as the city’s new library and potentially selling off the building currently hosting the library.

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With both mayoral candidates largely on the same page in terms of a platform, the question was raised to viewers: how are voters supposed to differentiate between them when electing a mayor?

Lang: ‘I have a proven track record’

Following the forum, Lang said he was surprised there wasn’t more disagreement between him and George.

“From the first day Glenn announced he was running for mayor against me, I always wondered what he felt was wrong with the city, and it appears he doesn’t seem to think there’s too much wrong,” Lang said. “I would say it validates the job I think I’ve done.”

For spectators still undecided following the forum, Lang said experience should be a factor.

“The difference is I have a proven track record and he doesn’t, to be blunt,” Lang said. “I have come through and delivered on every promise I ever made on any of my platforms, both times I ran for mayor (in 2012 and 2016). My experience as the legislative and finances chair for five years when I was on council have given me a key insight as to what the monetary and financial issues that are coupled with the tax that we have in front of us and how we’re going to handle and manage that.

“The mayor puts in more hours than a councillor does and is more involved with the overall aspects of how the city is run. The mayor is the one who takes the bull by the horns and does the lobbying face to face with the government ministers, no councillor does that. I have the experience interacting with the different government ministers and a proven track record of success.”

George: ‘I can pitch Melfort the way it should be pitched’

Regarding similar views expressed during the forum, George said he was only focusing on himself and how he viewed the residents’ questions.

“Sometimes we think the same,” George said. “I think he had his eight years to put his mark on the city, now I want my turn to put my mark on the city. Without being negative, I’ve been a salesman all my life. I love Melfort and I would be up to promoting Melfort everywhere I can.

“As far as the workings of the city, we have a city manager and a really good staff. I think it’s up to them to do the legwork but it’s up to the mayor and council to have the ideas. If there’s a reason for it to be shut down, then it’s up to the staff. I think our job as councillors is to make policy and promote Melfort, and that’s what I’d like to do.”

Regarding the experience needed to lead a council, George said he’s made numerous connections across Saskatchewan during his three terms on council, which saw him work as the Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s director for the northeast. He said he’d feel comfortable taking the reigns in lobby meetings and meeting with ministers.

“I know that I can pitch Melfort the way it should be pitched,” George said. “I’d like to put my spin on it and do it my way. I’ll work tirelessly for the good of Melfort.”

The Melfort Trade Alliance’s all candidates forum for the 2020 municipal election, featuring both mayoral and all 10 council candidates can be viewed online.

The Saskatchewan municipal elections take place on Monday, Nov. 9.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow