Monson Wants to Bring Positivity To City Hall

Kevin Monson is a new father looking to bring a new take on municipal politics as the born and raised Hatter is seeking a councillor position at city hall.

If elected, stimulating housing starts will be one of his top priorities.

“Not just single-family homes, not just affordable housing but we need all types of housing in Medicine Hat,” said Monson, adding that also includes rental properties. “I’d like to help eliminate red tape, get buildings done fast and affordably.”

He said there are some problematic issues with landlords in the city, and he’d like the municipality find ways to support renters.

Making transit more accessible and turning it into a service people want to use instead of needing to use is also high on Monson’s agenda.

“I think there is a lot more the city can do to make transit more efficient whether it’s opening more routes South Ridge, right now, basically has one route that goes through the main roads there,” he said.

Streamlining MHTransit’s app system would also be something he’d like to see done as it currently has one for payments, another for on-demand service and yet another for times.

But Monson said he liked the Ride and Rec pass offered to teens this summer which provided both bus and Big Marble Go Centre access for one price. Something he’d like to see repeated and even expanded to not just youth but seniors as well.

Economic development is also something Monson said he’d like to see the city address.

“I think we need to be supporting small and medium-sized businesses in Medicine Hat that are locally owned,” he said. “Not only because people can make a life for themselves, working for themselves in Medicine Hat but I think with the youth unemployment that we have, these are the businesses that will hire a lot of youth in the city.”

Locally owned and operated small businesses can also cater to Hatters and the specific nature of the community.

“I’ve lived in Medicine Hat for a long time and it seems like, basically, you can go to the bar or you can go bowling,” said Monson. “I’d like to see more things to do in Medicine Hat.”

And expanding options through supporting small businesses that cater to food and recreation opportunities has the knock-on effect of attracting new residents to the city, he said.

When it comes to transparency at city hall, there is a time and a place for closed sessions of council, even if it’s for councillors just getting to understand an issue so as to provide the public accurate information.

“That being said, decision making should be fully transparent and I don’t see why it would have to happen behind closed doors,” he said.

Monson said council is in need of positivity right now which is something he’d bring to the table if elected.

That and get things done attitude with effective communication skills along with a desire to work in a cohesive fashion are skills he’d like to bring to council.

“We all need to be working towards the same goal of making life better and more affordable for its residents.