Three women candidates are going after a councillor position for the RM of Estevan’s Division 5.
Tania Hlohovsky Andrist, Ramona Dukart and Dakota Michael filed their nominations and the residents of the division will have to decide who will best represent their interests.
Hlohovsky Andrist has bachelor of arts degrees in political science and journalism and also a certificate in non-profit leadership. She's been involved in the community for many years and said that she always had an interest in RM politics, so becoming involved with the council is just the next step for her.
"I really do believe in our RM. I just have such a positive feeling about it and about the place where we live. And I would like to participate in making an impact in the future," said Hlohovsky Andrist.
She added that with the downturn in the economy and the uncertainty in the energy sector, she'd like to help the RM to find the vision for the future. For her, the "number one" project is the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home.
Hlohovsky Andrist has been involved with the nursing home committee almost from the beginning and she continues to push for the project to be accomplished.
She lives and farms in Division 5, and is a fundraiser and grant writer for a local non-profit. Hlohovsky Andrist believes her experience with planning large projects and programming, finding budgets and making things happen can be very beneficial for the RM.
"I believe there are grants out there for municipalities, and … I would like to see our RM trying to seek additional funding for other things that maybe could make improvements for our community without having to burden taxpayers or the ratepayers," said Hlohovsky Andrist.
Dukart has retired from the South East Cornerstone Public School Division, where she worked as an educational assistant in speech and language. She said she can dedicate a lot of time and give 100 per cent to the RM if she is elected.
She felt that she wanted to help shape the future of the municipality, which is facing serious changes.
"(I want to help) make decisions about services they provide in the RM to help establish policies and some core essential services that are provided and how these services are delivered, like roads, transportation, snow removal, recreation facilities and programs that we run or help run, land use, planning and economic development, fire prevention, animal control, emergency planning within our division and the RM, and possible garbage removal," said Dukart.
She pointed out that road repairs and transportation are her main concerns, and added that for her it's important to help the RM with their involvement with senior care as well.
"I'm here for the ratepayers within our division and within the whole RM. And I would like to move the RM into the future and to stand behind the ratepayers, present what they have to say," said Dukart.
Dukart lives on the family farm north of Estevan and lived all her life in a rural setting.
Michael, who was raised in Macoun and has been living on the west side of the RM for the last six years, said that family members inspired her to run this year because of her concerns with the municipality.
"I thought that the RM needed a bit of a change and a different perspective with a female running and with someone younger as well," said Michael.
She added that there is a list of issues she would like to address within the RM, including the quality of roads, implementation of the coal phase-out plan and property assessment frequency. Michael said that working alongside the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency, she would like to see properties in the RM being assessed more often to represent the current fair market value.
She also wants to see the RM working alongside the City of Estevan. And she would like to get a field house started whether it be in the city or out in the RM.
Michael is an accounting technician for Siever, Fonstad and Erdman.
