Cameron Robock is taking another shot at being part of Estevan city council.
Robock filed his councillor nomination papers on Monday morning. It’s the fourth time he has run for councillor, as he was also on the ballot for the 2005 by-election and the 2006 and 2012 civic elections. He finished eighth four years ago.
He also ran as an independent in the 2016 provincial election, after his nomination was vetoed by the New Democratic Party.
Robock says he isn’t a quitter, and he still has a desire to be part of council. After talking to family and friends, he believes he has something to contribute.
“I do have quite a few people who do support me and will vote for me, but I need to expand my base that would vote for me, and hopefully this time that will happen,” said Robock.
He supports the direction council has taken in the past four years. He is pleased that council reduced the city’s debt. And he believes council has done a better job of engaging the public on contentious issues.
Robock cited the business licence bylaw discussions earlier this year, when council held a pair of special meetings so that people could ask questions about the document. Other people approached him during those discussions with their concerns.
“I brought those concerns (forward), they did a review, they talked about it, they addressed concerns all around, and it was nice,” said Robock. “It was a pleasant atmosphere, and they came up with a better solution. And it was nice to be part of that.”
Council members have also shown accountability, he said, as they have been willing to admit when things need to be changed. And he is happy that projects have been completed during this term, such as the construction of the new bypass north of the city.
But he would also like to see council pay very close attention to the budget, so that tax increases are kept to a minimum.
“What I’d like to see is for us to apply for every grant that the federal and provincial government is offering us, and get our tax money (here), that people of Estevan are paying to federal and provincial governments … so we can do projects here that are needed,” said Robock.
Robock has talked to a person he knows in Yorkton, and that person reported that council in Yorkton decided to do more with less by taking a hard look at expenses, and deciding whether they can do a better job.
“The council actually sits down and looks at it every time that way,” said Robock. “They spend a little bit more time on council in council meetings. And I think the extra time would be worthwhile.”
Robock said he and his family love being in Estevan, and they plan to spend the rest of their lives in the community, so he wants to be part of the local governing process.
