Incumbent councillor Corrie DiManno and born and raised Banffite Barry Ferguson are the latest residents seeking a seat on Banff council in the October municipal election.
DiManno wants a second term on council, in part to continue momentum on important issues such as transportation and housing, while Ferguson is seeking more accountability in the spending of taxpayer dollars.
Both submitted their notices of intent with the municipality to run for council last week, meaning they can now accept campaign contributions or contribute personal funds toward their election campaign.
For DiManno, a former journalist who was elected to council as the youngest politician in Banff’s history four years ago at age 26, housing and transit are central to her election platform.
“I’m excited about progress we’ve seen with housing and transit and would like to continue working on short-term and long-term solutions to both of the those,” said DiManno, now 30.
Ferguson, a well-known cowboy who worked for Warner’s guiding and outfitting for 34 years before retirement, is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility.
He said he wants to see taxpayer dollars spent more wisely.
“The Town has probably spent as much money avoiding building a parkade as it would take to build one,” he said.
Ferguson said he believes a parkade could be a part of the solution for Banff’s traffic and parking problems.
“It’s part of the picture. It has to be,” said Ferguson.
As for paid parking, Ferguson encourages everyone to vote and take part in the plebiscite on paid parking.
“I don’t see paid parking as a necessity yet and we’ll see what happens with the election and what people say,” he said. “I think the plebiscite will make direction for council.”
With some politicians having served several terms on council, Ferguson said it’s time for fresh blood.
“I think fresh blood should always be part of it … people with new ideas,” he said.
DiManno, with a total of 1,310 votes in 2013 and second only to Stavros Karlos who had six more votes, sees mass transit as the way of the future.
“I see mass transit as an ideal way to move people through our roadways,” she said. “If we continue to strengthen the transit system it will help to reduce vehicles in busy times.”
One of the solutions DiManno would like to explore is paid parking – a controversial issue in Banff.
“My record shows I’m supportive of exploring paid parking in the downtown core,” she said. “I think it’s really important that everyone comes out to vote on this question so we can have a clear answer.”
Affordable housing is always a top election issue in Banff.
DiManno said she is committed to addressing the housing shortfall in Banff, noting enforcing Airbnb and unauthorized commercial accommodations is a way to do that in the short-term.
In the long-term, she points to plans for an affordable housing project on Cave Avenue, which follows the $24 million, 132-unit project on Coyote Lane (formerly known as Deer Lane) currently under construction.
“We’ve made tangible physical progress on housing,” said DiManno.
Previously, two-term councillor Brian Standish and two-term Mayor Karen Sorensen announced they are again seeking seats. Ten-year resident Allan Buckingham is also running for council.
Nomination day is Sept. 18.
