Okotoks business owner Jessica Maurice is looking to lend her experience and know-how to the town through a spot on council.

One of her main motivators for running and one of the issues she'd like to tackle is housing.

The need for affordable housing is one she's seen firsthand.

"For the last several years I've noticed a problem with my staff, who are very young... I've found that they were unable to afford to live in Okotoks. There seems to be a big lack of housing to suit people who are on the lower-income side of things. We don't have a lot of rental properties, and I really feel like there's a huge gap in the market for housing to meet the needs of our future generations as well as other people with different socio-economic needs."

Maurice's choice to run for council was also informed by having been politically inclined from a young age.

She also got an insight into various levels of government through her involvement in a high-profile property rights court case that received national attention.

"I think it gives me a unique advantage in that I have a lot of understanding of the different levels of government and how they interact, and I have relationships with existing politicians."

Her experience as a business owner and resident has informed her campaign in other ways, including her desire for a wider range of businesses in town.

"I'd really like to see some energy put into working on attracting businesses to create professional job opportunities within Okotoks. I'd like to create more of a live-work community that'll also increase our commercial tax base, which I think is really important for the forward momentum of the town."

She says that would keep people spending money in town while also easing the tax burden on residents.

"Only about 12 per cent of our tax base comes from commercial businesses, so 88 per cent or so is from residents... I just see a real opportunity to change how things are in this town, and getting more commercial tax revenue in is going to allow us to provide services to the town, create recreational facilities, build a water pipeline, all those kinds of things."

That water pipeline is another major Okotoks issue she'd like to see resolved with some level of urgency.

In terms of her campaign and what she's been hearing from residents, Maurice says a lot of people have said they want to maintain the town's charm.

"I think we all love the small-town feel that Okotoks has, so as we continue to grow, which Okotoks is going to continue growing, it's really about making sure we're strategically designing the new neighbourhoods and the community and allowing for spaces and programs to continue to gather and connect with each other. That's how we'll maintain that small-town feel."

More information on Jessica Maurice and other local candidates can be found on the town's website.

 

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