Coun. Evert Botha launched his campaign at Kilarney Kastle Monday. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Civic election

Coun. Evert Botha seeks re-election in Ward 3

Sep 1, 2020 | 1:02 PM

A Prince Albert city councillor seeking re-election wants the city to do more to address social issues like homelessness and street gangs, as opposed to waiting on the provincial and federal governments for help.

Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha launched his campaign at an event attended by a handful of family members and supporters on Monday.

“I’m really very serious about us as a city taking ownership of some of these challenges as opposed to just saying ‘it’s a provincial issue, it’s a federal issue, it’s a First Nations, Métis, and Inuit health issue,’” he said. “These are community issues and we need to put a stake in the ground and start somewhere.”

Botha explained he wants to see the city step up and contribute financially to initiatives like the STR8 UP gang reduction strategy, as well as funding more programming for youth and seniors. He suggested this could be done by reallocating funds from police service outreach and community services programming.

As he seeks a second term, Botha said another of his key focus areas will be implementing effective crime reduction strategies.

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“Playing classical music outside civic facilities to prevent undesirable activities from taking place,” he said, as an example of such a strategy. “These are low ticket items which we can invest in, we don’t have to build fences around facilities.”

His other priorities include attracting new businesses and industries to the city, investing in water and sewer infrastructure and reviewing the water utility with the hope of reducing residents’ water bills.

Botha is running unopposed, as are all other candidates for councillor in their respective wards. However, he said, there’s still plenty of time for candidates to put their name forward. In particular, he encouraged women to run.

“My fellow members of council of the fairer sex, Coun. Miller and Coun. Lennox-Zepp bring about a balance and insights that the men don’t often get,” he said.

“We need more strong female representation.”

The municipal election is Nov. 9. The deadline to submit nomination papers is Oct. 7.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom