Four-time St. Albert city councillor Wes Brodhead has announced his bid for mayor.
"I think I've got something to say, and it's my time to say it," Brodhead said in an interview. "I think I'm the answer to what this city needs right now."
Another term with St. Albert council, this time in the mayor's seat, would be Brodhead's fifth in office.
Brodhead was first elected as St. Albert city councillor in 2010. At the time of writing, he's the second incumbent to add his name to the election, with councillor Ken MacKay announcing his intention to run for a third term as councillor late last month.
"I think I've got the background, at least in terms of my municipal experience," Brodhead said. With his experience on council, and previously with Edmonton Transit, he said he's the right choice for St. Albert's top job.
Broadhead said his top priorities would be supporting St. Albert's growth, both the ongoing expansion in the west and facilitating further growth in the north.
Included in that is the continued development of St. Albert's business community.
Brodhead pointed to the recent ground breaking and continued development of Lakeview Business District as a project from this past term that he's most proud of not just for himself, but for St. Albert's entire council. With the business district and the employment opportunities that come with it, Brodhead said another priority would be to help provide affordable housing to current and future St. Albert residents.
"With more business, that brings more employment, that brings the opportunity for growth, and quite honestly, that's when your city starts to flourish," he said. "Our rental vacancy rate in St. Albert is virtually non-existent, even with more and more rentals coming into the community."
In December 2024, rental market survey highlights were released from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The report found in St. Albert there was a 0.9 per cent vacancy rate in private apartment rentals in October 2023.
The city has plans to build affordable mixed housing with 22 St. Thomas Street, and Brodhead said more affordable housing in St. Albert.
He also pointed to the establishment of the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission, even though it was shut down in 2023, as well as the renaming of Grandin neighbourhood.
"I'm proud of the courage of council to do the hard things, and a hard thing is sometimes controversial," he said of the renaming of the Grandin neighbourhood to the Gardens, which was voted on by council in March 2025.
"It was the right thing to do to acknowledge the impact of the residential school system on many of our residents over a long period of time, and that impact is undeniable," he said.
As far as why Brodhead thinks he would be best to lead St. Albert council through the next term, he said it's because he has "been there as a councillor," but also because of his leadership experience. He points to his experience as the director of bus operations for Edmonton Transit, his positions on the Audit and Finance Committee for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB), and positions on various other committees and boards in municipal politics.
"I know the math around the financials of working in the municipal environment. I've led in the municipal environment," he said. "I think that's what I bring to the mayor's chair, should I be fortunate enough to be elected."
The municipal election will be held Oct. 20, 2025.
