Thank you for visiting Election Forum 2010 and your interest in our Municipal and School Board elections.

As a candidate and new Voice for City Council, I’m inspired to:

• Listen and discuss issues that matter to our community;
• Encourage as many citizens to talk about this election and promote voter turnout.  (In case you weren’t aware, in our last election in 2007, voter turnout was at 22%.  That’s disappointing and concerning. ) Here’s a reminder of the advance polls on October 2^nd, 8^th, 9^th, 15^th and 16^th at the Recreation Centre – Sportsman’s Room. And of course, remember to cast your vote on Election Day – October 18^th at your community poll;
• Provide service on City Council with my energy, enthusiasm and commitment to continue to shape Red Deer as a great City to live in.

Meet Dianne

• Lived in Red Deer since 1975, born in Eckville and raised in the Diamond Valley area;
• Married to husband Allan, 17 years;
• Graduate of Red Deer College and past member of the Red Deer College Alumni Committee;
• Employed with the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Alberta for the past 30 years, currently as Regional Director for the province of Alberta;
• Past member of the Red Deer Parks and Recreation Board;
• Current member of the Alberta Labour Relations Board;
• Interest in adult literacy and life-long learning.

What’s Important to Me

Vision, planning, and common-sense are important in making decisions as we look to the future growth of our city. As your city councillor, I commit to representing you fairly, thoughtfully, and with integrity.

On Leadership

• Building relationships with individuals, businesses and organizations to hear diverse perspectives and interests. 
• I have the experience and understanding of working with diversity of people, dealing with challenges and conflict as I bring my skills of mediation, negotiation and problem solving to the council table. 
• Possessing vision as we make decisions for our City, while working through the complex problems with the leadership and team of City staff, providing citizen-focused services.

On the Economy

• Keeping Red Deer an affordable place to live, by resisting user fees for services and working with provincial and federal levels of Government to ensure adequate levels of funding.
• Continuing initiatives to make Red Deer an attractive place to do business, through programs such as SAFE Downtown (sustainable, active, friendly, economically-viable) and 'Shop Local' policies and promotions.
• Supporting the renewal and revitalization of our downtown and older city neighbourhoods.

On the Environment

• Continuing with the vision of our parks, trails and green spaces for our enjoyment as Red Deerians.
• Looking to the future for efficient public transit, traffic timing, car pooling, and bicycle lanes, where feasible.
• Expanding and improving Red Deer’s environmental practices, including how we get to additional curbside recycling options.
• Working with citizens and community associations interested in the development of growing community gardens.
• Ensuring that our water resources are clean and available as we protect our river lands.

On Efficiency in Spending and Services

• Growing our City with smart growth, as we look to more efficient use of our land resources rather than sprawling out on fertile agriculture land.  This includes the revitalization of vacated spaces and brownfields in areas of Red Deer.
• Responding to the infrastructure needs so that we keep up with maintaining and repairing roads, bridges, water and waste water systems.
• Ensuring that infrastructure projects are necessary, well-planned, and financed openly, fairly, and transparently.
• Respecting our tax dollars when decisions are made to take action that requires spending.

On Our Community

• Community safety is everyone’s business - and an important use of our resources. I support collaborative and community-based solutions so that we have safe places to live, work and play.
• I recognize the importance of taking on complex problems such as social challenges of poverty, substance abuse, and crime.  There is enormous value in how the community works together to respond.

Get Involved!

Please visit my website at www.DianneForRedDeer.ca, or email me at Dianne@DianneforRedDeer.ca.

Feel free to call me personally at 403-350-1093.  I would welcome hearing from you.

Thank you for your support in my election as one of your City Councillors.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”  Mahatma Gandhi – Indian Nationalist Leader.

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