By Joel van der Veen
July 19, 2010

CRAIK - The citizens of Craik will have the opportunity to vote for a new town councillor this Wednesday in a special byelection.

Four residents are running for the position formerly held by councillor Brian Skeet, who moved to Edmonton, Alta.

Voting will take place at the town council chamber at 600 Front Street on July 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance voting was held July 17.

The results will be announced July 22 by town administrator Jeff Murray.

Currently serving as town councillors are Connie Nielson, Aaron McRae, Vern Luther, Craig Watt and Richard Bisson. The town's mayor is Rick Rogers.

The four candidates running for the position are as follows:

• Shirley Eade, 63, served as town administrator from 1998 to 2006; prior to that she was employed at the Craik Co-Op store. Originally from Victoria, B.C., she moved to Craik after marrying her husband, Austin, in 1968.
  Eade said she is especially concerned about the upkeep and maintenance of the Eco-Centre. She believes the town has potential, but it needs to have an open vision about its future, with a careful plan for where it wants to be 20 years from now.
  "(The Eco-Centre) is kind of a magnet to bring people in, and I think we need to look after it," she said. "Rural communities aren't out of the woods just because there's a bit of a boom going on."
  
  
• Garry Gilbertson, 69, is a semi-retired mechanic. He moved to Craik 23 years ago from the town of Viceroy, Sask., where he formerly served as mayor. He also ran for mayor of Craik in a previous election, losing to Rick Rogers.
  "Things are getting run down pretty bad around town," said Gilbertson. "We do need a lot of roads fixed and things like that."
  Besides his concerns with infrastructure, he also hopes to work towards repairing what he considers "a divided town." He said that recent efforts towards environmental projects may be alienating some residents. He believes that the town needs to work together to focus on common concerns.
  
  
• Sarah Needham, 27, is a small business owner. She is also studying part-time at the University of Regina, working her way towards a major in psychology. A former "army brat," she moved to Craik about a year ago.
  "I am very interested in the financial aspects of government," said Needham. She has sat in on some town council meetings. She is concerned about town maintenance, particularly in regards to the Eco-Centre and the water treatment plant. She describes her stance on the political spectrum as somewhere between an NDP and a libertarian; her most admired politician is Elizabeth Warren, appointed to chair the committee in charge of monitoring the recent $700 billion U.S. bank bailout.
  
  
• Ron Thys, 61, worked as a highway truck driver for 40 years. Now semi-retired, after his wife Lyn passed away a year ago, he runs a yard maintenance and handyman business. He moved here four years ago from Salmon Arm, B.C.
  Thys said his main concerns in town are with the water treatment plant and local infrastructure. As a relative newcomer, he said, he's interested in what's going on in Craik. Thys feels that becoming a town councillor is a good way to keep an eye on local comings and goings, to learn about the community and watch its growth. Otherwise, he said, it can be difficult to stay informed of the town's situation and progress.

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