County investigation not enough — Wildrose PAUL COWLEY Black Press Wildrose Party justice critic Shayne Saskiw believes a County of Stettler internal investigation of partisan fundraising doesn’t go far enough. Saskiw still wants to see Elections Alberta get involved with its own probe. The Wildrose Party alleged last month that a county employee had posted election signs while on shift for the county for then-Progressive Conservative MLA Jack Hayden years ago. Another employee allegedly promoted Hayden’s Facebook page while at work. Hayden lost the 2010 election to Wildrose candidate Rick Strankman. A Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy request was made for any records of municipal resources
being used for partisan purposes. A county investigation found no truth to the claims involving employees doing work for the Tories. But a review going back almost a decade found county politicians and staffers had improperly been reimbursed for attending Tory party events to the tune of $6,540. All of the payments dated prior to 2010. “Taxpayer dollars, whether municipal, provincial or federal, should not be going to partisan purposes,” said Saskiw. “It’s wrong and the money should be immediately repaid. We’ll leave it to Elections Alberta to determine what the appropriate penalty should be in this case.” County Reeve Wayne Nixon said a week ago Monday that attending the meetings had been seen previously as a
routine cost of business and a useful way to meet with government leaders. The practice was stopped by the current council, which was elected in 2010. As for allegations that an employee was asked to put out election signs on municipal time and another worker promoted Hayden’s re-election Facebook page while at work, a county investigation found no evidence of either incident. Nixon said the Wildrose has been asked, but has yet to produce, the statements backing up those claims. Nixon was critical of the party’s tactics, calling it a “witch hunt,” adding the party should focus on more important issues for constituents. Saskiw said the results show this was no witch hunt. “I think most taxpayers and most Albertans would be frankly shocked at
that type of statement to say it was a witch hunt when in fact illegal donations have been found,” he said. Saskiw said he has not been contacted by the reeve for more information. However, any information backing up the allegations will be provided to Elections Alberta if it investigates. Under the law, Elections Alberta will not disclose whether it is investigating unless there has been a finding of wrongdoing. A number of Alberta municipalities found themselves on the wrong side of election laws earlier this year. In February, the chief electoral officer posted the results of an investigation that found 45 cases of illegal contributions, all involving either the Tory party or one of its constituency associations. Total donations topped $20,000.
Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
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STETTLER, ALBERTA
October 16, 2013
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Voters go to polls on Monday R ICHARD F ROESE Independent reporter
Photos by JOHN MacNEIL/Independent editor
ELECTION SIGNS VANDALIZED — Vandals hit the campaign trail on the weekend, destroying signs for Town of Stettler council rookie candidates — and Stettler businessmen — Zachary Jackson and Sean Nolls.
Voters head to the polls this Monday in the Town of Stettler, County of Stettler, Donalda, Botha and Gadsby — and elsewhere in the province — to elect councils for new four-year terms. With polls open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., electors can cast ballots at defined stations. For the Town of Stettler, polls will be located at Stettler Community Hall to elect six councillors. Among the challengers, Will Brown, Zachary Jackson, Sean Nolls, Karen Sernecky, James (Jim) Smith and Wayne Tebbe seek to unseat incumbents Darcy Bachman, Al Campbell, Malcolm Fischer, Peter Simons and Steven Wildeboer. Both acclaimed to their respective leadership positions, the town mayor and county reeve urge voters to get to the polls. “We have 11 candidates offering their services to help the town and we owe it to those people to understand what they stand for and to help choose the next council,” said Stettler Mayor Dick Richards, who has served as mayor for four years. Richards also noted that many people in countries throughout the world don’t have the same democratic right that Canadians fought hard for in wars. For voters in the county, the message is similar. “I urge voters to make sure they know the facts about any issues that may be brought up,” said Reeve Wayne Nixon, who was acclaimed in Red Willow– Donalda. “Discount rumours, research the facts and vote for the person that you think will best represent the best interests of ratepayers in the county.” County vote in five wards County of Stettler voters in five of the seven wards cast votes, with the county office accepting ballots in all wards. Specifically, electors will vote in: — Byemoor-Endiang at Byemoor Community Hall, as incumbent Lawrence Wilkie faces former councillor Les Stulberg and John Schofer, who is also seeking to return to Clearview School Division. — Big Valley at Big Valley Jubilee Hall, where incumbent Terry Schiffner is challenged by Dave Grover, who was unseated in the last election.
County in hunt for new PR voice RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Mired in controversy in recent weeks, County of Stettler has heard good news at the main office. “Our director of communications is expecting twins,” Reeve Wayne Nixon said Tuesday when asked about a job posting last week for a temporary position. “This is very positive news for the county.”
Shawna Benson will soon take a maternity leave, as the position will be filled for 16 months. Nixon said Benson’s planned departure has nothing to do with recent complaints from the Wildrose party about her alleged use of county email to back the PC party in the last provincial election. Pheasantback seeks reprieve from county After buying Pheasantback Golf Course this summer, the new owner has asked County of Stettler to cancel taxes of $24,000
for this year. At its monthly meeting in October, county council heard a request from Gary Grant, who bought the course north of Stettler in late July after it went into receivership in September 2012. “We have postponed any decision until after the assessment review,” Reeve Wayne Nixon said after the meeting. With taxes at $24,441.86, Grant noted that he has also filed an appeal for the property assessment. “I ask council to cancel the taxes for this year,”
Grant said, noting that he is seeking to get the property assessed down to $500,000. He further asked council to give golf courses a tax break, because the Stettler Golf and County Club annually pays just under $300 taxes per year, though council has expressed not to give special treatment to golf courses. With general manager Ken Graham as business partner, Grant plans to add a park for recreational vehicles and a condominium complex in the next few years that he said would add to the tax base.
— Botha-Gadsby at Gadsby Community Hall, with incumbent Greggory Jackson and former reeve Vic Carey on the ballot. — Stettler ward at the county office, with incumbent Blake Chapman challenged by Ernie Gendre. — Erskine-Buffalo Lake at Erskine IOOF Hall, as incumbent Joe Gendre again faces a challenge from Guy Neitz. Donalda: four seeking three seats Electors in Donalda will have four names on the ballot to choose three councillors with Mayor Bruce Gartside and incumbent Dan Knudtson joined by Shane Fox and D. Paul McKay. Botha: four names on ballot Three seats are being contested by four candidates, Fay Betts, Flo Iskiw, Ken Hoekstra and Jim Renschler. Gadsby candidates announced For three seats on Gadsby council, Brian Burks, Kim Cooper, Fred Entwisle and Laura KellyStevenson are in the running.
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