SUNDRE – A former Town of Sundre councillor whose mayoral bid in 2021 was unsuccessful hopes to make a comeback.
Although not vying for the hot seat, Cheri Buchan is officially running for one of six councillor positions in the Oct. 20 municipal election.
Buchan has since December 2022 worked as corporate service manager for Padnoma Support Services, a non-profit in Olds that assists individuals with developmental disabilities.
She was originally acclaimed in 2012 during a byelection and although she was not re-elected the following regular election, she eventually got back on council in another byelection after which she was elected to a full term in 2017.
Buchan would later go onto join a three-way race for mayor in 2021 alongside Richard Warnock and Patty LaPointe, with the former ultimately being elected, which Buchan said was a blessing in disguise.
“It turned out to be the best of both worlds. I have a job that I absolutely love, and Richard Warnock is doing a fabulous job as mayor.”
Asked what background experience Buchan brings that she considers beneficial, she said it was her prior time on council that in a large way had turned out to be educational.
“Everything that I learned on municipal council – like the policies and bylaws and everything like that – has served me very well in the non-profit world, because I know how to help with the boards and everything like that that I work with.”
But working for a non-profit in turn also planted the seeds of nostalgia.
“It’s the finance and the policy board work that has reminded me how much I love municipal politics, and how much I miss it,” she said, expressing no interest in ever pursuing office at a higher level of government.
“I am not a politician. I’m a public servant.”
Responding to a question about the issues facing Sundre, Buchan first cited the status of the long-awaited project to enhance the municipality’s existing sewage lagoon system that she feels has not been adequately communicated with the public.
She also noted increasing costs and expressed a desire for the municipality to more clearly explain the reasons behind them.
Recognizing many of the additional cost burdens were downloaded by the province onto the shoulders of municipalities – including the new police funding formula and the increased education requisition – she said there needs to be a better explanation about what’s being done to mitigate and absorb those costs.
“They need to do more instead of just saying, ‘Well, this is a download from the province.’”
If elected, Buchan said she would also want to discuss with her colleagues why tourism remains a council focus when an hoc committee was struck in 2019 to work towards establishing the Sundre Tourism Association that was intended take the lead on that file.
“What is the point of the travel association, and what part does the town play?”
Buchan also considers communication a priority and said the municipality has improved “exponentially” since resident Kim Free made a presentation to council outlining recommendations.
“The information that the town is putting out has been tremendous. But where does council lie in that communication?”
Offering parting thoughts, Buchan said that while she had reclaimed her maiden name, she remains the same person with the same beliefs and goals.
She also wants to see as many names as possible on the ballot. As of early July, only five candidates had officially registered to run. What she does not want, is a default council appointed by indifference.
“I don’t believe in acclamation – I want to be elected because the people have a choice, and they chose me. I want to see the democratic process,” she said. “I want the public to vote for who they want to represent them, not who they’re stuck with.”
People are all too often quick to complain but most are reluctant to ever run for office.
“You have an opinion? Put your money where your mouth is and put yourself forward.”
