Meet the Calgary mayoral candidate: Sarah Elder

Calgary’s municipal election is now less than a month away and nine people are vying for your vote for the mayor’s seat.

CTV News Calgary invited each of the mayoral candidates this year to answer the same three questions in three minutes or less.

The video segment is posted in full above and the answers are transcribed below.

Sarah Elder is a mayoral candidate running as an independent.

Why are you running for mayor?

Elder: “I’m running to be the next mayor of Calgary because I found myself not being able to vote for any of the other candidates running. And so I’m not only answering my own dilemma of who to vote for on October 20th for mayor, but I’m also answering that question for every single Calgarian who also feels like they can’t vote for any of the other candidates.

“If you’re in that same position, then I’m asking you to vote for me, Sarah Elder, on October 20th.”

What’s the most important issue that needs to be addressed in the city in the next year?

Elder: “The most important issue that I’m hearing from Calgarians across the city is the repeal and replacement of blanket rezoning. And so my approach to blanket rezoning is that it actually shouldn’t be a blanket. How I am asking Calgarians to understand what my approach to it would be is, rather than a blanket, a patchwork quilt.

“Blanket rezoning is too big and too broad. Thinking of it as a patchwork quilt puts density in the places where it makes the most sense, not everywhere.”

Why should Calgarians vote for you?

Elder: “Calgarians should vote for me because I am a small business owner, I’m a mother, I’m an active community advocate. And I can see the frustration in people every day coming into my business and around the city with their dissatisfaction with the status quo that the current city council and mayor offer.

“I am the best person to lead the city who hasn’t actually been a part of the decision-making over the last four, eight or longer years. I consider all of the other candidates to be a part of the issues that we’re seeing now.

“And, so, if you’re fed up and frustrated with that approach, then I would be the best person to lead Calgary over the next four years with fresh ideas, fresh perspective and the energy to do it.”