By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Promoting public involvement and shoring up the town’s spending habits are key components of what council candidate Andy Marshall says he will bring to Cochrane if elected.
The veteran journalist, who will turn 62 before the Oct. 18 election, said a new council needs to tighten the public purse strings and open the doors to citizens who have felt left out.
“Council has to be very vigilant over spending,” Marshall said, launching his campaign Aug. 23. “Certainly taxes have gone up too much.”
He said this year’s four per cent tax hike promoted by council was closer to an average of 13 per cent based on rising property assessments.
While he acknowledged council put the brakes on some pricey projects, in some cases, such as councillors’ decision in May to raise their salaries, indicate a “cavalier attitude” for taxpayer dollars.
“I think in the last six months they’ve begun to realize things are going to get really tough (financially),” Marshall said. “The priority for me is to keep a very close watch over spending.”
In order to secure one of the six council seats, Marshall will face off against five incumbents — Doreen Sutherland, Jeff Genung, Ivan Brooker, Maureen Wills and Truper McBride — and at least one other candidate, Ken Hynes, who has officially declared his intention to run.
A handful of other candidates, including former mayor and councillor Lydia Graham, have said they may stand for election.
While Marshall wouldn’t say a clean slate is needed in the council chamber, he noted some “fresh ideas” may be necessary.
He said there is a perception the current council is not open to public feedback beyond the existing statutory requirements.
“A lot of people don’t feel they’ve been heard in town office,” Marshall said. “Perhaps we need fresh people to come in with fresh ideas and be more open.”
Marshall, who campaigned in an effort to defeat the town’s plan to secure the former Western Heritage Centre as a municipal home in 2002, said that process showed the division between council and the public.
Despite a successful push by the group Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility to hold a plebiscite on the plan, Marshall suggested many felt disenfranchised by the results. A 59 per cent majority was in favour of taking over the former interpretive centre.
He also vowed to push for an end to closed-door meetings that have become more prevalent despite public concerns about their legality raised by outgoing Mayor Judy Stewart.
“Doing business in public is . . . important. There are a lot of closed meetings and pre-council meetings held on a regular basis,” Marshall said. “Let the public know what council has to deal with and ultimately it will help everybody.”
A comprehensive plan to deal with the town’s growth, promoting environmental and social responsibility, encouraging affordable housing and maintaining recreational and cultural needs are also part of Marshall’s platform.
Despite rumblings that community associations may contest some council positions, Marshall, who is president of the Cochrane Settlement Community Association, said he will resign from the position if he wins and won’t lobby specifically for his neighbourhood.
The nomination deadline for the October election is Sept. 20.

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