Fresh off year 13 on Athabasca County Council, Jack Dowhaluk is going for another term as Division 6 councillor. Penny Stewart will challenge him for the seat on election day, Oct. 16.
Jack Dowhaluk said it was not his intention to run again in this election.
“I wasn’t planning on running but with the way the economy is now, we’re in for a long haul here for the next year or so,” he said. “I know the council needs some experience and I think with my experience we can get over this wave of economy being where it is now.”
Dowhaluk said infrastructure is his number one priority. If elected he hopes to work on supporting construction projects on the eastern side of the county, creating a fair road use policy, and getting the Plamondon connector road paved.
“It’s been a priority for the last 13 years and I will continue my best to get funding, to get that part of the highway paved,” he said.
Dowhaluk said he is proud of the work he did on council to get a water line to Wandering River, which was a joint project with the provincial government.
He is a lifelong resident of the county and a farmer who has been involved with the Grassland Agricultural Society for 20 years.
“I am outspoken, I don’t hold back, what’s fair is fair,” Dowhaluk said.
Lifelong Division 6 resident Penny Stewart said she is very eager to work for the people of Division 6.
“I’m honest, I’m outgoing,” she said. “I believe I’m a very hard worker, and I think I would be an asset.”
Stewart said infrastructure will be one of her top priorities if elected.
She said she wants to ensure that bus routes are among the first-cleared roads in snow storms and that they are maintained. She said the Plamondon cut-across route needs to be paved, as it is also a bus route that carries kids from Wandering River to Plamondon school.
“I think we need to continually look at responsible development,” she added. “Just to make sure our infrastructure can sustain new development.”
Stewart is a local farmer and has previously worked as a logistics specialist with Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries.
“I am familiar with roads, contractors, dealing with people, being able to multitask and manage different things,” she said. “I know I have a huge learning curve but I’m very ready to hit the ground running and put a lot of energy and effort up front.”
She added that she will communicate and follow up with the people for Division 6 as much as possible.
