Two candidates are aspiring for a Division 1 seat on the RM of Estevan Council this year.
Newcomer Jeff Mack is challenging incumbent councillor Lorne Jahn, who’s been part of the council for the past 27 years.
Jahn said it is his last time running, but so far there are some issues that have to be addressed before he retires from council work. For example, he would like to see taxes going down.
“We are way out of whack with taxes here,” said Jahn.
He also pointed out that while it’s unclear so far what the new government would mean to the region and to the RM, the council has serious issues to deal with and it has to be knowledgeable to face them. And Jahn has a lot of knowledge and experience to offer.
“They call me ‘the historian,’” he said. “I want to try to keep the fair government in the RM.”
Jahn said he’s received a lot of support from people around.
“I’ve always been fair to everybody. I don’t have any enemies as far as I’m concerned,” Jahn said.
Jahn is now retired and lives in the RM south of the Shand Power Station, just a couple of kilometres away from where his father was born. He’s spent 30 years working draglines and also dedicated many years to raising cattle alongside his family.
Mack, on the other hand, said he decided to run for the RM council to see some changes happening and to add a fresh voice to the group, leading the area through the upcoming transformations related to changes in the coal industry in the region.
“It’s a good time to add somebody fresh in there, a little bit younger, who is trying to get ahead of the game and get some idea of what’s going on,” said Mack.
He added that for him it’s important to hear the people out and bring attention to their issues and concerns.
“I’m running to be able to get to the people in this area that actually voice their concerns,” said Mack. “There are some people that haven’t seen a councillor for quite a while … I honestly think that … (councillors) should be able to go out and visit people and get their opinions on their division in their RM on what should be done.”
For Mack, it is the first time running for the councillor position.
Mack was born and raised in Estevan, and five years ago moved to an acreage south of the Shand Power Station by Roche Percee. He’s recently started working as a custom hauler
