Koch Wants to Promote Teamwork at City Hall, Spread Civic Pride Message

Adam Koch is a born and raised Hatter who has most recently opened a new business in the city and says he’d like to spread the word of the potential for the community.

“I think we need to tell Medicine Hat’s story. I deliberately moved back here and opened a business because I’m really proud of this city,” he said is one of the reasons he’s running to be a councillor.

But there’s room for some improvements.

“I’d like to see a little more pro-active transparency,” he said about city politics. “The gatekeeping of certain amounts of information is just not helpful. It sows a certain amount of distrust.”

Koch said closed sessions of council are necessary in some cases, but he’s heard that it’s also used to allow officials to weed through rudimentary questions.

“I can understand maybe where that’s a necessity, but I also think a certain level of vulnerability is ok. We’re not going to be experts in absolutely everything,” he said. “Asking a naïve question in front of open council I don’t think is necessarily a problem, as long as it’s asked in good faith.”

Koch said he’d like to see social issues be a priority at city hall, specifically, expanding transit and encouraging the building of affordable housing.

Collaboration is something Koch emphasised is something which will be critical when it comes to working with eight other council members and city staff.

As someone who’s worked in the hospitality business in central Toronto restaurants prior to opening one in his hometown, Koch says he has experience working with and managed large teams.

“Often with very competing priorities, lots of different personality types,” he said. “I think I’m very good at getting a certain amount of consensus – even if people don’t necessarily agree – and find the best way forward.”

Being easy to work with along with teamwork building experience are his strengths and so is the ability to be open to new ideas and compromise if supported by good information, Koch said.

“I like to describe myself as having strong opinions that are loosely held,” he said. “I may come out with a fairly strong opinion but I can be swayed if there are enough facts to back it up.”

Ensuring there is diversity is also part of teamwork, he said.

“I don’t want to see nine of me. Diversity of opinion is one of the things that makes this city great. I just want to be one of those voices,” said Koch. “Often times I may be one of those voices that say, ‘hey, let’s stop and think about other people who may need a little bit more of a hand before we make these overarching financial decisions.”

Other times he might be the one questioning tax increases, he added.

“I want to represent the entire city,” said Koch. “I want to understand and push for what’s best for Medicine Hat in its entirety.”

 The candidate nomination period for the 2025 municipal election ends on Sept. 22.

The election will be held on Oct. 20.

Candidates who would like to have an election profile broadcast and published by the Medicine Hat Owl can contact alexmccuaig@comtv.ca to schedule an interview.