A local affordable housing advocate is throwing his hat in the electoral ring for a third time.
Stanley Haroun, chair of the St. Albert Housing Society, announced Monday he is seeking a seat on city council. Haroun, who first ran in 2004 and again in 2007, said property taxes, crime prevention and affordable housing are major issue he wants to discuss in the upcoming election.
“I made this announcement early for a reason, so the candidates can look at these issues and think about them,” he said. “Whether I win or lose, I want to get these issues out.”
Among the issues Haroun says the public should discuss include limiting property tax increases to annual changes in cost of living, protecting green spaces from unwanted development projects, fair property taxes for residential condominium owners, establishing a crime prevention and vandalism reduction task force, supporting the arts and culture in St. Albert and creating a 10-year affordable housing and economic development plan.
Parts of Haroun’s platform are similar to ideas he raised during the 2007 election, including the idea of preserving green spaces from development projects, such as one he was involved with in 2007.
“We tried to build affordable housing in Grandin,” he said, referring to a city-initiated project near Grandin Pond. The controversy was similar to what’s happening with 70 Arlington Dr., a fact he says requires council to take action on the issue.
“We value green spaces here, and it attracts people to our city. [Residents] have to decide what they want to do with the green space.”
Haroun wants the city to set hard targets for affordable housing using figures from a 2005 city study that called for 3,500 to 4,000 affordable units immediately and 100 new units every year. The city could also use figures from the Capital Region Board, which has called for 300 new affordable homes per year for the next five years in St. Albert, he said.
Affordable housing is not just an issue of personal importance, he said, adding it’s essential to the growth of St. Albert.
“Without a target, you will not get anywhere,” he said. “It’s something the community needs for us to succeed and expand.”
Another issue Haroun plans to bring to light is taxes for residential condominium owners. As a condominium and homeowner himself, Haroun says he pays for many city services that are already covered by his condo fees.
“To my way of thinking, if you have 45 to 50 units on a piece of land that would hold two to three houses, the city is charging a lot in taxes,” he said.
Haroun is the third challenger to announce his plan to run for council in the Oct. 18 election, along with James Van Damme and Cam MacKay. Incumbent Couns. Gareth Jones. and Roger Lemieux have already said they’re running while Len Bracko is “most likely” seeking another term.
Haroun previously served on the city’s vandalism task force and affordable housing advisory committees, before the latter was turned into the St. Albert Housing Society. He also ran for the Liberals in the 2006 federal election, losing to then-incumbent M.P. John Williams.
