There is a second name in for Whitecourt’s mayoral race coming this fall in the municipal election. Current councillor Ray Hilts officially declared his intent on Tuesday, March 3.

Hilts said the last three and a half years on council had taught him a lot about the community’s inner workings. “Seeing where we are spending our money, where our expenses are, and where our revenues are, has been enlightening.” He said that experiencing business cycles and the budgetary process each year has helped him understand how the municipality works for ratepayers. “I’ve had lots of satisfaction with my involvement on council and how we do what we do. The fullness of the position made it clear that I want to run for another four years. The question was, should I run as a councillor or for mayor?” Hilts explained that after talking with family and friends, the decision became clear. “My interest is in leadership responsibility in the community. Maybe it is a bit of a cliché for people to think that leadership is important, but I think it’s true and particularly true for our community going forward. I believe I have those abilities to fulfill the responsibilities of mayor,” said Hilts.

As a Whitecourt resident for the last 27 years, Hilts has seen the community grow in many ways. “My formative years and my career have all been here. I met my wife here, and we married here and have two boys. Whitecourt is all we have ever known. I love living here, and I love our way of life. That is why I want to be in politics because I want Whitecourt to remain a wonderful place to live.” Professionally, Hilts has experience with industry and all levels of government. “The work that has to be done, I think my experience goes a long way in improving our positions whether it’s with industry or government.”

Much of his career involved forestry in Whitecourt, and he is also a small business owner. “As an entrepreneur, I’m always looking at different projects around the community that bring tourism opportunities. I know the area very well and not just the area within the community but also around the community,” said Hilts. Regularly outside enjoying the fresh air, Hilts said his favourite part about serving on council is the relationship he builds with residents. “The last election, I door knocked most doors, and I really enjoyed that. If you want to get to know someone and find out what’s important to them, then knock on their door and talk to them.” Though COVID restrictions might keep him from door-knocking throughout the whole community this time around, Hilts said he is geared up to reach as many residents as he can.

“I want a strong sense of what the community needs. I know some of that through the work I’ve done with the town and the boards I sit on, surveys and check-ins with businesses, but it’s vital to learn more and talk to people one on one,” he explained. “We were not doing well as a community in terms of what the economy was doing even before COVID. So, pandemic aside, I want to get a better sense of that and how we can support our business community. I want to find out how people are doing and what’s important to them and integrate that with some of my ideas going forward into the next election term.” He added that setting tangible goals around diversifying certain businesses to non-traditional sectors and being pragmatic and focused on economic diversification will be important.

Hilts said he plans to use his social media to engage residents with videos and live events. He also has an idea to help residents understand how he processes decisions. “I might do a series where I debrief decisions that I make so that people can understand how I think and approach various issues and decisions on council. There’s a lot to be said about how you make those decisions and your rationale for it.”

One of the biggest issues Hilts pointed to is a need to focus on repairing the Town’s relationship with Woodlands County. “I would say we’ve got some repair work to do with Woodlands County. We are going through the arbitration process, which will eventually conclude, but we need that historical, strong relationship with them which attracts businesses and holds us above others in the province in terms of municipalities working together.” He pointed to the economic aspect of the breakdown as one of the key factors in getting it resolved. “There are significant budget implications that go with it for taxpayers in the town of Whitecourt. Not only do we need to improve that relationship with Woodlands County, but we also have to understand what implications the arbitration outcome will have for our community, both from a revenue aspect and a service level.”

Another hot topic is the Performing Arts Centre project. Hilts said that he would support it if the community showed significant interest. “It’s roughly a 52 million project that has tax implications for the people in Whitecourt, but it also has an upside with significant improvements to service levels in the areas of recreation, performing arts, and cultural events.” He said the community must be completely behind the project and the long-term costs of paying for it and operating it. “We have to find out, what do people want? I think it would be a fantastic facility in how it is designed and the business it would bring, but that is tied to a financial commitment that the community needs to understand fully.”

He said that serving Whitecourt residents and businesses over the last three and a half years has been his honour. “The recession and COVID-19 pandemic have proven to be challenging times for everyone. The next term for Town council requires strong leadership, critical thinking, community engagement and continued transparency to ensure that we continue to grow and thrive and move forward as a community. I believe that I am the person for the job,” said Hilts in his announcement post. “Let us work together for a better tomorrow!” To speak to Ray Hilts in his capacity as a current Whitecourt councillor or his run for mayor, call 780-779-7321 or email rayh@telus.net, or visit his Facebook page Ray Hilts for Mayor.