Mayor Gene Sobolewski fully intends to keep making a difference in Bonnyville.
The current head of town council will look to run for a second term in the upcoming municipal election.
With him, Sobolewski brings a passion for the community and many years of experience, which he said still affects the way he makes decisions today.
“I've been involved in municipalities since 1986, following rules or bylaws set down by council. As I got into more senior roles, I recognized some of the decision making characteristics of certain councils,” informed Sobolewski.
While working his way through the ranks, he studied how that process impacted policies, and learned from it. Eventually moving into helping create those bylaws and policies.
“It gave me a lot of experience in terms of how councils react and some of the issues they're reacting to,” he explained.
It was his three terms on council Sobolewski feels prepared him best for the roll he fills today. Seeing certain flaws in the way councils were run, he took the positives and the negatives and created a plan of his own.
“I was able to see the interactions of council as part of the decision making process and not as an administrator, there's a big difference,” Sobolewski said. “That essentially prepared me for the role of mayor. It set forward the framework as to what I'm not going to do. I took some of the positives from that experience, and it gave me the direction I was going to follow.”
Despite spending so much time preparing and learning on the functioning of council, Sobolewski has never let his volunteerism fall by the wayside.
Even today he coordinates, directs, and acts as chair to various boards and community-driven programs across Bonnyville. It may sound like a lot, but Sobolewski says it's a part of him.
“It's who I am, even before entering into the world of politics I volunteered often. I belong to a number of organizations and give them my time because that's who I am, that's what I do.”
Remembering a vow he made to himself when he first became a councillor, he elaborated.
“When I first got into politics as a councillor, I told myself I wasn't going to change who I am. As mayor I'm staying true to myself by continuing with the involvements in many community organizations.”
For Sobolewski, re-election would mean the chance to benefit from relationships made with the surrounding First Nations communities and municipalities. These were areas he took pride in during his first term as mayor
“I'm happy with the relationships we have been able to forg with the First Nations people, the Métis people and most importantly the MD of Bonnyville and Village of Glendon, even Cold Lake to some extent. It's something I'm very proud of,” he expressed.
Going forward Sobolewski would like to continue to see Bonyville grow into the place to be in northern Alberta.
“I'd like to continue having a positive impact on the community, being able to allow the community to continue growth. I would like to make Bonnyville the regional hub and the best place to live in the northeast.”
