WEYBURN – A former trustee for Southeast Cornerstone School Division, Brandon Tichkowsky, is the fourth name on the ballot for the byelection for the City of Weyburn.
The close of nominations was on Wednesday, and candidates had 24 hours to withdraw if they wished. In addition to Tichkowsky, the other candidates are Trevor Tessier, Larry Heggs and Dana Pretzer, with voting to take place on Wednesday, May 31. The byelection will fill the vacancy left when Coun. Dick Michel had to step down at the end of March due to his health.
Tichkowsky served for two years on the school board, and then was narrowly beat out by Norma Hewitt-Lendrum in the last school board election.
“I really enjoyed being on the school board. I enjoy being a part of government, creating policies. I like being involved, and I like the opportunity to help people,” he said in an interview on Monday.
The City has to take care of its budget, to take care of needs like the roads and city buildings, and he said he’s open to looking for solutions.
“I want to help people to be healthy and happy,” said Tichkowsky. “I’d like to focus on some of these things, such as focusing on young people moving into Weyburn.”
He noted as an example of a concern that there aren’t many entry-level homes in Weyburn for new families who want to move here.
His experience serving on the school board will serve him well, he added.
“Definitely I’m not a person to sit quietly. I will voice my opinion. I don’t shy away from discussions, even when the discussions are passionate, in a way that represents the people,” he said. “I’m not afraid of asking questions and bringing in a new perspective. Sometimes there are questions people want to ask.”
Tichkowsky added that he also knows how to work with other people and different opinions, and work together to find a new approach or solution to a problem.
Weyburn has a good diversity of people, he said, and if he’s elected, he hopes he can help solve issues for residents of Weyburn and in the surrounding communities.
