A St. Albert resident who works as Edmonton Transit's director of bus operations will make his second run at a council seat in October.
Wes Brodhead said he decided to throw his hat into the race after his experiences in the 2007 election when he finished 10th with 5,173 votes, 781 shy of a seat. He said his first election experience was a positive one and strengthened his desire to do more work in the community.
"I didn't win, however the response of the people I got when I went door-to-door and the results of the election gave me hope for a second run," he said. "I've decided to do this one more time, see how it plays out."
Currently, Brodhead serves as a member of the city's environmental advisory committee, and was previously on the library board. Past volunteer experience also includes chairing the prairie provinces and territories chapter of the Canadian Urban Transit Association and chairing the City of Edmonton's management association.
Arlington lessons
Affordable housing for all St. Albertans was one of the challenges Brodhead said is at the forefront of his campaign. He cited the 70 Arlington Dr. debate as a sign of how the city needs to change its approach when it comes to finding a suitable location for affordable housing projects, consulting more with residents prior to council meetings.
However, he also believes residents need to change their outlook on how St. Albert is built. Brodhead added that a wide variety of people are in need of affordable housing in St. Albert.
"One of the things that bothered me … was the attitude towards any kind of higher-density development in the St. Albert area," he said. "It was viewed as being counter-St. Albert and I don't think that's true."
Brodhead feels the city can get closer to the goal of an 80/20 tax split, but a change in how the city develops its land would have to happen to make it a reality. He said the current model would have to change putting a stronger focus on developing a light industrial.
"As you set aside more light industrial that is specific to that use, then you'll move away," he said. "But it has to be intentional."
Smart growth
One of council's more recent decisions came as a shock to Brodhead, when council decided to reject the smart growth plan, which would have seen the city's northwest lands developed with more density and grid-like streets. He noted the city is required to meet density requirements set by the Capital Region Board.
"I thought the smart growth plan had some interesting [elements] that St. Albert needed to take a look at," he said.
Brodhead is in charge of Edmonton Transit's buses, giving him a budget of $100 million to work with and experience dealing with the challenges of life in the municipal sector, something he hoped would give him a leg up on other council hopefuls.
However, he said that his job in Edmonton would not put him at conflict with decisions made in St. Albert, especially revolving around LRT.
