The first hat has been thrown into the municipal ring for this fall鈥檚 election in Yorkton.
Current Councillor Aaron Kienle announced today that he would be making a run for the Mayor鈥檚 chair, a position wide open with the recent announcement incumbent Bob Maloney would not be seeking re-election.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been tossing around for a while since talking to Bob (Maloney) and finding out what his intention was moving forward,鈥� Kienle told Yorkton This Week.
Kienle said he looks back on the last four years on Council as one of progress and he wants to see that continue.
鈥淎 lot of good has been accomplished by the current Council,鈥� he said, adding he believes continuity from this Council to the next in the Mayor鈥檚 chair is important. He said he wants to be the connection from this Council to the next.
Kienle said he believes such a role plays to one of his strengths the ability 鈥渢o bring good teamwork and leadership to any team.鈥� He added he looks at Council, and Administration as all part of a team working for the betterment of the city.
So with a desire to see continuity, Kienle said, 鈥淚 started having conversations.鈥� Those conversations were wide ranging, from Maloney, Kienle鈥檚 fellow Council members, some members of City Administration, the local MLA, and onto local business people.
鈥淚 was looking for some reassurance ... that I could do the job,鈥� he said, 鈥渁dding for the most part I had everybody鈥檚 support.鈥�
So the idea of seeking the seat 鈥渉as been percolating for a long time,鈥� reiterated Kienle.
The current Council has at times been split on major issues; the roundabout as part of the Mayhew/Darlington reconstruction, and how to best replace the condemned Public Works Building on York Road. Kienle said he appreciates differences of opinion, but added he wants to build on the idea of a team approach too.
鈥淚 want to part of a positive Council, part of a team,鈥� he said. 鈥�... The negativity is difficult. It鈥檚 something I hope to be part of a solution (to the apparent split).鈥�
Maloney has been a full-time Mayor, something that was easy for a retired person. Kienle, 38 operates two businesses in the city, so how does he fit in the time the major鈥檚 position requires?
鈥淪omething that is a strength of mine is time management,鈥� he said.
Looking back on the last four years on Council Kienle noted, 鈥淚鈥檝e attended everything that is possible鈥� including attending seminars on municipal government and for provincial municipal conventions.
Over the last four years he has been a member various Committees of Council, from the Economic Development Committee to the Gallagher Centre Management Board.
Kienle also noted he has attended the Municipal Leadership Development Program, completed the Public Relations and Communications for Municipalities course, as well as attending their summer school where he received a certificate for Municipal Leaders Roles and Responsibilities.
Moving forward, if elected Mayor, Kienle said he will balance his time adding, 鈥淢y priority is going to be the city.鈥�
Kienle, who has lived in Yorkton the past 21 years, was born in Wadena. He has been married for 20 years. He and wife Carrie have three children; Chanise, Aaliyah, and Derek.
