Glen Watchel is seeking a second term on council as mayor. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

municipal election

Watchel to call town hall meeting if campaign for mayor is successful

Oct 22, 2020 | 1:20 PM

When Coun. Glen Watchel put his name forward to run for La Ronge mayor, he did so because he wanted residents to have a choice.

“I didn’t want an acclimation and there may be a candidate I don’t want to see as mayor,” he said. “I believe I have done my part, so we’ll see what election day has. There’s four now, so they are definitely going to have a choice.”

Watchel also isn’t making any big promises to voters as he explained the roles of a mayor and councillor are largely the same and that they each have one vote. With only 14 per cent of the council vote, he said whoever wins will either need to be a dictator or bully to push specific promises through.

There’s also currently a five-year master plan and official community plan in place, Watchel noted.

“What I’m promising if I get elected, I would as a mayor start out with a town hall,” he said. “That would be a virtual thing.”

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Watchel is currently employed as a construction contractor, but he also worked as a teacher at Pre-Cam Elementary School for 10 years. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree and a diploma in recreation. Watchel also currently serves on the boards of the La Ronge Curling Club and Visions North, and he’s a member of the La Ronge Elks.

Watchel moved to La Ronge in 1991 and raised children in the community.

“Both girls went to school here,” he said. “The youngest got a teaching degree here and works in town. The eldest is between Saskatoon and Buffalo Narrows.”

As for some of his voting record, Watchel voted against rezoning a building downtown for the relocation of a homeless shelter, he voted against a bylaw limiting the sale of alcohol and cannabis, he supported a nearly $1.2 million enhanced policing program with the RCMP, and voting in favour of a public health exemption to allow non-critical travel into La Ronge during the pandemic in April.

He also voted in a favour of a controversial land deal in the Industrial Park, which former mayor Joe Hordyski said was a virtual giveaway.

“I don’t regret how I voted,” he said. “I don’t know why that land was never surveyed. The land was never surveyed, so the town didn’t have to pay that bill.”

He explained Scott Klassen paid more than $1,000 as the final bill was likely closer to $7,000 with expenses such as surveying and a development levy.

The municipal election is scheduled for Nov. 9.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno