A retired Canada Post superintendent, Martin Ring is the Prince Albert Raider's colour commentator. (Submitted photo/Martin Ring)

By Alison Sandstrom

Another hat in the ring

Martin Ring hopes to reclaim Ward 6 seat

Sep 23, 2020 | 1:11 PM

Former city councillor and 2016 mayoral candidate Martin Ring has entered the race in Ward 6.

Ring represented the ward for ten years, from 2006 to 2016 when he made a bid for mayor. He told paNOW he considered running for mayor again this year, but ultimately decided against it, partially because of number of candidates already in the race.

“If I throw my name in as a mayoral candidate this year, now we’re back up to four people again,” he said, referencing the crowded field in 2016. “The odds tell you that the incumbent ends up with the advantage under those circumstances.”

Prior to being elected to city council, Ring served as a Canada Post superintendent. He’s currently the colour commentator for the Prince Albert Raiders and sits local non-profit boards for Spark Theatre and Mont St. Joseph Home.

In his four years away from council, Ring said he’s remained active in the community, but missed being involved in the day to day operations of the city “immensely.”

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If elected on Nov. 9, one of Ring’s top priorities will be ensuring reserve funds are properly spent and money collected through specific base taxes and levies for things like snow removal and roadway improvements goes toward those particular projects.

“I want to make sure the money is being used properly for those specific needs and not pulled out of to balance the books,” he said, refencing 2019 budget deliberations when the city took $300,000 collected from the roadways base tax to help lower the overall tax increase as an example.

Ring also expressed excitement about the city’s new aquatic and arena recreation centre and explained having someone with his leadership experience at the table as the city moves ahead on the project would be an asset.

As for the arena’s location, which has been a point of contention among councillors and mayoral candidates, Ring said he supports the Ward 6 site.

“I think you have to look at it from the other amenities that are going to be added to that location in commercial development and such,” he said. “I don’t think it would fit basically anywhere else in the city.”

Ring is challenging incumbent Ward 6 councillor, Blake Edwards.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom