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Banff mayor plans to bow out of local politics at 2021 election

With the 2021 municipal election just a year away, Mayor Karen Sorensen has no plans to run again, having achieved the goals she set out in her 2017 campaign
Banff-Council-2017_21
Banff town council

BANFF –  Mayor Karen Sorensen has no plans to run in next year’s municipal election.

Having served two-terms on council and now in her third term as mayor, Sorensen believes she has accomplished what she set out to do over the past 17 years, including on housing and public transit.

“Understanding we are still a year away from the next municipal election, it is currently not my intention to run in the 2021 municipal election,” she said.

“That said, I am enthusiastic to continue to delve into the issues before council as we move into 2021. It has always been and continues to be my privilege to serve.”

The next municipal election is set for Oct. 18, 2021. Nominations will be open between Jan. 1 and Sept. 20, 2021.

During her 2017 election campaign, Mayor Sorensen clearly stated she was motivated to run for Banff’s top job and lead council for one more term in order to accomplish her goals.

Those goals included increasing the housing rental vacancy rate from zero to two per cent over the four-year term, having Roam Transit operate as envisioned back in 2010, and to be a voice at the table during review of the Banff National Park management plan.

While it may be difficult to determine Banff’s current vacancy rate given the state of the economy, Sorensen said she is anxious to see the 2019 rental vacancy rates when released by the province.

“My guess is that it will be at 1.5 per cent or higher and will be on track to reach two per cent by the fall of 2021,” she said.

“This is directly due to the changes implemented by the previous and current council to the land use bylaws, as well as incentives created for the private sector to build density housing.”

Sorensen said she is also incredibly proud of the 132-unit Ti’nu housing project, adding it’s had a positive effect on the community’s rental market, as well as creating homes for residents – at no cost to taxpayers.

“Today, taking COVID-19 and the impact on our community into account, I expect the rental vacancy rate will be higher than two per cent in 2021,” she said.

As for Roam Transit, Sorensen said it has proven a huge success with ridership of 1.26 million in 2018 and 1.52 million 2019, and routes operating in Banff, Canmore and between those two communities, as well as into Banff National Park.

She said Roam was envisioned prior to 2010 when Banff town council and partners created the first regional transit commission in Alberta. 

“I certainly lift up Roam Transit as one of the most rewarding undertakings of my political career,” Sorensen said.

To her final goal during this term, Sorensen said she has worked closely with Parks Canada during review of the 2020 park management plan, which is expected to be released in the near future.

“Equally important, the Town of Banff administration has engaged extensively in the plan to define how the Town of Banff section will be presented,” she said.

The mayor concluded: “ I consider the goals that I set in 2017 as accomplished.”

First-term councillor Peter Poole also recently indicated he has no plans at this time to seek re-election.

Councillors Brian Standish, Ted Christensen and Chip Olver all say they plan to run again in 2021, while councillors Corrie DiManno and Grant Canning aren’t saying either way yet.  

Coun. Poole said he has been honoured to serve on council, regarding it a civic duty.

“Being a councillor is a role open to many and I want to see more fresh faces on council,” he said, adding he would be pleased to help others who are interested in running to prepare for the role.

Coun. Poole said the need for fresh talent on council is especially important in the coming years. 

“Council works best when there is healthy, informed debate, and when there is a respectful distance between council and the administration,” he said.

Coun. Standish said 2020 has been a challenging time for everyone, including the Town of Banff, with the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficult for council to move forward on strategic goals. 

“I don’t want to walk away when there is so much more to do,” he said. “Banff will need strong leadership moving forward and I believe I can provide it.”

Seeking a third-term on council, Coun. Christensen said he wants to focus on housing for seniors in Banff, including long-term care.

“I’ve been working towards this for a number of years. I believe we need to do more for seniors’ housing,” he said.

“It’s also to help the most vulnerable in our community, who often have to do a circuit through Calgary to get back to St. Martha’s.”

Coun. Olver, who was elected in a byelection in spring 1994, said it has been a deep honour to represent residents for the past 26 years.

“A primary goal is the safety of our community and our safe economic recovery as we live with, and eventually come out of this devastating pandemic and the challenges it brings,” she said. 

Coun. Olver said she wants to take action on issues that will continue beyond this term; enhancing quality of life, emergency management and wildfire preparedness, housing, transit and traffic congestion, preserving cultural resources and improving environmental performance. 

“I also wish to contribute to the development of our next community plan, where we will vision together how we want our town to move forward into the future,” she said.

Coun. Canning said he hasn’t made a decision one way or the other, preferring to wait to see where his life is in spring.

“I'm very proud of this council and this council term, despite these challenging times, but I'll give it a few more months before I make a final decision,” he said.

Coun. DiManno said she wouldn’t make a decision until 2021, adding her focus right now is on the last year of this four-year term.

“We will have more tough decisions ahead of us during the upcoming service review and budget deliberations, so that process will have my full attention soon,” DiManno said.

“During this process, I want to ensure this council is set up for success with goals we’d like to try and achieve in 2021, while balancing the ongoing and emerging needs of COVID safety.”

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