Residents will have their chance to see all of Drumheller’s election candidates take to the podium next week.
    The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce and the Alberta Teachers’ Association Drumheller Sub Local will host a political candidates’ forum on Tuesday, October 8, at the Badlands Community Facility. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 7 p.m.

The ten Drumheller election candidates have been invited to the election forum on Tuesday October 8, at 7 p.m., in the Badlands Community Facility.  The candidates for council are incumbents Jay Garbutt, Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk, Sharel Shoff, and Tom Zariski, and will be joined by challengers Jenny Dannhauer, Crystal Jensen, Patrick Kolafa, Tara McMillan, Bryce Nimmo, and Kalon Sykes.

    Candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and present their platform to the public. There will also be a question and answer period for each candidate.
    Candidates running for the six positions on council include the town’s four incumbent councillors, Jay Garbutt, Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk, Sharel Shoff, and Tom Zariski, and the six new candidates, Jenny Dannhauer, Crystal Jensen, Patrick Kolafa, Tara McMillan, Bryce Nimmo, and Kalon Sykes.
    Election day is scheduled for Monday, October 21. For more on each candidate, visit www.drumhellermail.com.

    Patrick Kolafa, senior reporter at The Drumheller Mail has declared his candidacy for a seat on Drumheller Town Council in the upcoming October civil election.
    Kolafa has spent more than a decade keeping residents informed and sharing the stories that make up the community.  
    “I am humbled every day that people trust me to share their stories and in doing so making a positive impact in the community,” said Kolafa. “I actively chose to make Drumheller my home and raise my family in the valley. This is why I want to make a contribution to the future direction of Drumheller.”
     Kolafa, 39, came to Drumheller in 2002. He and his wife have two daughters who attend St. Anthony’s School. He has volunteered at the school in a number of capacities including coaching basketball for three seasons.
    In running, Kolafa said it is not an indictment of the current council, and feels it has made a number of good decisions. He said a strong and united council is needed to complete the second phase of the Badlands Community Facility and achieve its fundraising goal.
    “Leadership means a firm commitment to this goal in order to build momentum and excitement,” he said.
    He also applauds council’s work to fiscally manage resident’s contribution to the tax roll, and the key to keeping taxes low is playing a role attracting and retaining business.
    “Simply put, we need to be open for business. We want to be encouraging to those who want to invest in the community and make it a positive experience.”
    “There is opportunity, and we have to be ready to capitalize on it. This year the valley had unprecedented exposure. The world’s eyes are on us and we have to be ready for it.”
 
Editor’s note:
If elected, Patrick Kolafa will refrain from contributing to coverage of the Drumheller Town Council in order to maintain unbiased coverage.