High River needs the right people, not the loudest people, in council.

We are now passed the cross-roads.  It is now over two months since the flood, and less than two months before we have a new Town Council.  Very soon, if you haven't already, you'll see the campaigns begin.

Look at what has happened.  Basements have been stripped out.  Tens of thousands of tonnes of our former lives have been taken to the dump.  Infrastructure has been moved, changed, remodelled, and rebuilt.  Yes indeed, lots has been done.

However, there are still multitudes who feel like they are being left behind.  Landlords, renters, small and mid-sized businesses, and residents who have nothing left and limited coverage are still in limbo.

Yet out of the receding waters comes opportunity.  In High River, a building stands empty where a library once stood.  An incredible opportunity to rebuild the arts and culture in the town now sits in that empty shell.  Schools in town are undergoing slight modifications to better use the space they have.  Serious consideration to mitigation efforts is being given, and various roadblocks to getting those completed are being removed.

2 weeks after the flood I saw the "For Sale" signs pop up, and I was worried. Within the past two weeks, many of those "For Sale" signs have been replaced with "Sold" signs, and I am encouraged.  My neighbours, two wonderful people I've had the pleasure of sharing a fence with, are moving on, but our new neighbours hale from Calgary, which reminds me that High River, even in it's most significant need, is still a place other people want to live.

Yes indeed, there is opportunity in them waters.

We need clear communication to understand how every action helps our town.

We need decisions to be informed and to fulfill a long-term vision.  No more band-aid solutions with short term gains, long-term consequences.

We need to stop doing studies that are already done, and start moving forward.

We need to spend smart.  Rather than tear out a road to fix one problem, repave it, and tear it out again months later to fix another that could have been fixed the first time, we need to spend the resources we have in the most efficient way possible.

We need to redevelop all of High River, not just the location of berms.  This community is rich in culture, even though there is minimal support for it.  The character of our town resides in our Downtown core, and it must be retained.  Developments must be smart, forward-looking, and with a 10-year vision, not a re-election vision.

Some people still fear how High River will recover.  The answer is "it will".  How it recovers is dependent on who leads the recovery.  The best parts of democracy start with the right people for the job in the local government.

I've heard time and time again "it won't matter what Council does, because in two years everyone will forget."  Do not allow yourselves to forget.  Hold Town Council to account.  Only then can we have any hope of avoiding June 20, 2013 again.

I implore everyone to really get to know your Town of High River Council candidates.  The right people can make this Town a beacon of light in Alberta.  The wrong people can cause a flood of problems that we will be managing for decades.

The right people are electable because they will do what's right.  The wrong people are electable because they are the loudest.

I believe Richard Murray is one of those "right people".  Murray will do what's right.  He won't be the loudest, but his background knowledge, his "big picture thinking", and his vision make him the "right person".  So while I know he won't be the loudest, I'll be loud for him.

While I've already told you why, I still believe you need to see for yourself, so visit his site at www.voteformurray.ca.

Because I love this town.