Paul Ponich has become the new Athabasca County Division 7 (Grassland area) councillor after being the only one to come forward during the nomination period on June 9.
“I’ve always had a desire to return to municipal politics,” Ponich said.
Ponich replaces councillor and deputy reeve David Yurdiga, who stepped down May 9 to focus on his campaign with the federal Conservatives to become Member of Parliament for the Fort McMurray-Athabasca riding.
Ponich is currently semi-retired and sitting as board chair for Aspen View Public School Division. Ponich previously held the Division 7 seat, occupying it from 1998–2004.
He hopes to be able to focus on the hamlets within Athabasca County, support infrastructure and promote development.
“I have some concerns about hamlets. I’d like to see our hamlets kept up well. The first thing people see in the county is hamlets, and it gives them an image of the county,” he said.
“I think we have to encourage and somehow promote development and not put roadblocks and those kinds of things in the way,” he continued. “Somehow we have to work through that so that development does take place, whether that’s through our policies or personnel.”
Ponich will be sworn in as the newest councillor at the June 10 county council meeting.
