ST. PAUL - County of St. Paul Reeve Glen Ockerman has announced that he will be seeking re-election this fall.
The 2025 municipal election is set for Oct. 20, across Alberta.
Speaking with Lakeland This Week on Aug. 5, Ockerman says he has made the decision to pursue one more term as reeve. He says he remains focused on supporting the people of the County of St. Paul.
"I love democracy. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world," says Ockerman.
First elected as a councillor in 2004, Ockerman served in the role until he chose to run for reeve in 2017, but at the time did not secure the position. Former Reeve Steve Upham was re-elected.
Putting his name forward again in 2021 as reeve, Ockerman was elected.
After four years at the helm of the County of St. Paul, Ockerman says he still wants to serve his community, and sees being a municipal politician as a form of giving back to the community he has raised his family in.
When asked what he would like to accomplish if re-elected, Ockerman points to recreation.
He looks to other neighbouring communities with larger recreation facilities, and says he would like to help bring some similar projects to the area, in a bid to keep youth in the region and keep rural communities "viable."
He says he would love to one day watch his own grandchildren play sports, locally.
Ockerman says he would also like to continue to advocate on behalf of smaller communities, such as Ashmont, Mallaig and Elk Point. One issue that he has recently brought forward is the increased cost of insurance for community halls.
"I'm willing to address that one," says Ockerman, who also notes that he is not afraid to bring issues forward to other governing bodies, such as the provincial government.
While he does not feel there has been quite as much offloading of provincial services onto municipalities over the last few years, he still believes the provincial government needs to step up and take responsibility for some things - such as increasing insurance costs.
He also believes the provincial government needs to continue to support small communities in northeastern Alberta, considering the region is a large contributor to the provincial economy.
When asked about other challenges that have come up, such as decisions around library funding in the County of St. Paul, Ockerman notes there are intermunicipal talks currently happening, and he did not feel he could comment on the issue. However, he did acknowledge the cut to library funding was "very divisive in our communities . . . and we need to be cohesive."
When asked what he feels his biggest accomplishment has been as reeve over the past four years, Ockerman simply states, "Working with the people."
He offers the example of a large wind turbine project that was looking to move into the County of St. Paul. Residents spoke out against the project, and the municipality "listened to the people," says Ockerman. Ultimately, the project did not move forward.
Looking back 20 years, when he initially put his name forward for municipal politics, Ockerman jokingly says he was "young and foolish." But ultimately, it was his father, who was involved in organizations such as the ag society, who influenced him to be active in the community.
"I'm a true believer that is takes a community to raise a child," says Ockerman. And as a father to five children, that belief has proven true over the years.
While Ockerman acknowledges there are many people who are qualified to do the job, he feels supported and encouraged by the public to seek re-election.
He also encourages other people to step up and put their name forward for municipal office if they feel they have something to offer, since it takes six other people around the table to make decisions.
