Lemieux leaps at second chance on council

A long-time local businessman has formally announced plans to run for city council a second time.

Roger Lemieux, who won a spot on council in 2007 with 6,757 votes, said he made the decision to seek re-election after watching his interest in the city blossom through his work on council and various city committees.

"I went from having a desire to run to a passion," he said Friday. "There are a lot of things going on now I am really well tuned into now."

Lemieux said his re-election goal was sparked by a desire to see through all the work council has initiated during the term, including maintaining stewardship over city coffers, looking after St. Albert's less fortunate and helping build the community.

Business experience

Because of his business background, Lemieux said he was well equipped to deal with the corporate side of city hall. With the global recession occurring during his first term, he said his ability to scrutinize city spending is an asset that he is more than willing to provide to his fellow councillors in a second term.

"I was informed by an individual that you can't run the city like a business and that's so far from being right it's unbelievable. The city is a business," he said. "We can't always go back to the public [for more tax dollars]. We have to, in fact, cut something or else make do without."

Affordable housing is another issue Lemieux has taken up over the last two and a half years. He said there are many people in the city in need of a safe, affordable place to live to raise their families.

Working with groups like the St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village and St. Albert Housing Society has opened his eyes that there's more work to be done in the larger realm of social justice.

"I've always been aware that our society has a problem with social justice," he said. "It's our responsibility to assist in taking care of the less fortunate, and I won't let that go."

Minimize tax increases

Lemieux said he wouldn't promise to cut property taxes, but would work to ensure any future increases in taxes are kept as low as possible. He said it isn't possible to cut taxes when city expenditures keep rising, but added that as long as there is a careful accounting of city spending there is hope to keep increases low.

However, Lemieux said it was important for the city to build ties with developers, and improve the commercial and light industrial sector that is crucial for the future of St. Albert. With two business parks and a third one planned for the northwest lands, it is possible to build up St. Albert into something more, he said.

"We have the property to get a really good community built up."

Lemieux is the third incumbent to declare a re-election bid, with others entering the race as challengers. The civic election is Oct. 18.