Council incumbent Richard Levesque won a by-election last November and wants to continue with a full term on city council. (File photo/meadowlakeNOW)

By Teena Monteleone

Council candidate brings more than 30 years of municipal government experience

Oct 21, 2020 | 11:27 AM

Richard Levesque knows the ins and outs of municipal affairs in Meadow Lake.

The council incumbent, who won a by-election last November, previously worked for the city from 1981 to 2009 as the assistant administrator and then as city manager. As such, he has dealt with local, provincial and federal levels of government, other agencies, towns, cities and First Nations.

“I have pretty extensive knowledge of how the system works and I had a lot of involvement in some of the bylaw development and I am quite aware of what the infrastructure needs are of the city,” Levesque said.

Levesque is now retired and says, if re-elected, he’ll devote himself full time to the job of councillor, listening to resident’s concerns whether big or small.

“I think I have knowledge to help in making decisions on council and I enjoy asking questions at regular council meetings,” Levesque told meadowlakeNOW. “I guess the new people in the city may not know me, but I’ve lived here most of my life and have always tried to work hard at Making Meadow Lake a better community.”

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His main priorities are maintaining the assets the city already has and making sure taxes and water bills don’t get out of control. Since he has so much past experience with the city, Levesque said constituents can feel confident in knowing he is very familiar with infrastructure, budgets and bylaws and how tax money is being spent.

Levesque has a strong attachment to the community. He was born here and graduated from Carpenter High School where he was a member of the first provincial high school volleyball and basketball championship teams. He attended the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina and has spent most of his life in Meadow Lake. He encouraged citizens to vote during the municipal election Nov. 9.

“If you have concerns about the way the city is being operated you should be voting. Even if you don’t have concerns it’s good to express the democratic process. We saw what happens when voters didn’t turn out [ in the States] and Trump got elected,” Levesque joked.

There are 11 candidates vying for six positions on Meadow Lake city council. Mayor Merlin Seymor was acclaimed.

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @meadowlakeNOW