New man to politics Mike Cottrell will take on incumbent councillor Kevin Haines for the Division 5 (east Athabasca) Athabasca County council seat.
Cottrell, who is now retired, worked as an automotive mechanic and then a district supervisor for Devon Energy. He said his business background puts him in the know for municipal politics.
“Athabasca County is just big business,” Cottrell said. “It’s probably one of the biggest businesses in central Alberta, apart from the other counties, and that’s what I’m familiar with. Balancing budgets, managing budgets, being accountable for budgets, managing people and stakeholders. And I see the electorate as being a pretty major stakeholder in business.”
Cottrell said he will not run on a specific platform.
“I imagine there are issues but there’s nothing specific that I – I’m not going to stand on a platform and specifically say I’m going to do this and this and this,” he said. “All I can promise is I have the time available to be able to dedicate to doing the job as good as anyone else if not better. And with the experience I bring to the table, I think I’d be a pretty good candidate.”
Cottrell first moved to Athabasca in 1996 and left in 2004. He returned five years later and has resided in the county since. While living in the county he raised two sons and recently joined the Athabasca Classic Cruiser’s Car Club and helped repair the riverfront caboose through the club.
“It doesn’t matter how good a place it is, if the people aren’t there you can only handle it for a while,” he said. “We met a lot of people here and that’s why we chose to come back. (Running for council) gives me a great opportunity to become a bigger part of the county.”
Kevin Haines
Haines is aiming for a fourth term at the council table.
“We have a lot of different initiatives going on and it’s kind of exciting times,” he said. “There’s lots of training happening and I just decided that I’d like to be a part of that.”
Haines said hashing out inter-municipal agreements and river intake updates are some of the issues he is excited for council to tackle in October.
Through council, Haines sat on the Colinton Community Club and works with the Amber Valley Hall.
“I think I have a proven track record with the people in my division,” he said, mentioning the mix of urban and rural populations. “I think I’ve represented the people fairly.”
“We have a nice mix of urban (and) rural here,” he added. “You have to strike a balance between your rural agricultural community and the needs of the more urban multi-lot development-type subdivisions … You have to be aware of who needs what, why do they need it and can they help provide that.”
Haines said he comes from a family of farmers that date back to homesteaders in the area.
“If people are unhappy about something they don’t hesitate to tell me,” he said with a laugh. “I hear a lot.”
Haines said his advice to new councillors is to talk to the people.
“Talk to the people, go have coffee with them, see what their thoughts are about the different issues that are taking place. But also keep in mind that you have to work with your council, as well,” he said. “You don’t want to sit in a glass silo either and not talk to the people you represent.”
