麻豆传媒

ESTEVAN - Kirsten Walliser wants a second term as a councillor on Estevan city council.

Walliser ran for the first time in 2020, finishing fifth in the 11-candidate race to claim one of the six seats on Estevan city council.

She said she found a lot of her time in her first four years on city council was spent learning about the process of government, the jurisdiction that council has locally and how it relates to provincial and federal partners.

"It wasn't until later in the term that I really felt like I really knew how to take citizens' concerns and be able to have action on their behalf, and use that experience and the knowledge gained. I would like four more years … and to be able to effectively make change on the citizens' behalf."

Walliser said a lot of good things have been happening in the community during this term. In the next four years, Walliser wants to see an improved communications strategy that really hears where people's concerns are, but also where their passions are while bringing people together.

"A lot of what people are looking for is already here, and they just haven't found it yet," said Walliser.

But there are still some other things that need to happen. Sidewalks still need to be upgraded. A growing number of people in the community are walking, and there are still some busy roads in the city that don't have an accompanying sidewalk.

The water main replacement program has proven to be "incredibly" valuable, she said, and it needs to continue.

"I would like to see the city continue to work provincially and federally for a solution to the water mains and the sewer mains in the Westview area," said Walliser.

When she was elected to council in 2020, she was one of four new members elected to council. At least four new members will be elected to council in this civic election as well, and if she is re-elected on Nov. 13, Walliser would look forward to working with them to ease their transition to council.

"We relied heavily on the experience of those who had been there before, so not only am I looking forward to new ideas, but also being able to support them and get them up to speed as well," said Walliser.