Let's Talk - Leadership

It’s Time to Restore Sanity, and Integrity, to City Hall

Lately, something remarkable has been happening. People in Medicine Hat stop me in the grocery store, at the coffee shop, and in the park. 

Waiting for Champagne Murder to start at the Redcliff Legion

(It’s so weird - once upon a time, nobody knew who I was. Now I can't go anywhere without being recognized, even when I’m wearing a dress - yes I do clean up nicely.)

They greet me by name, not because I’ve knocked on their door, but to thank me. They’re thanking me for what I’ve been doing for the last four years: first as a dedicated council candidate, and then as a local voice, persistently holding power to account and fearlessly reporting on the misdeeds that have plagued our city government that preceded this council's term.

I knew that when a new council was elected that the Old Guard would resist the changes, the threat to their power. I knew things would get a lot worse before they got better, I don't think any of us realized how much worse it would get.

That experience means I am entering this race far more prepared and with my eyes wide open. I'm not the same candidate I was four years ago. I've seen into the depths of the dysfunction and the lengths to which some will go to protect the status quo. I am not naive to the political games anymore. I do believe most people are honest and truthful, but I also believe in verifying everything. I will always ask to see the receipts; I won't apologize for that.

People wonder: “Now that we know how bad it is, how will you fix it from the inside?”

It’s a good question. 

We’ve seen 8 council members favour City Manager Ann Mitchell who bypassed our own bylaw 2 years ago, and then support the bylaw bypassing even after Mayor Clark rightly spoke out against it. Clark produced a legal opinion that showed they were wrong which embarassed Council. Council then chose to punish Clark for wanting to follow our own bylaws. Councillor Sharps (who is seeking re-election) filed a Code of Conduct complaint the very next day which led to an investigation and the subsequent imposition of draconian sanctions of unlimited duration by the other 7 Council members. 

I feel that Sharps allowed her emotions to get away from her. I feel that if she had the wisdom to wait a few days to calm down and try to work out the issue that this whole mess could have been avoided. I avoid making decisions when I am angry, no matter how justified the anger is. Those in governance should be to manage their own emotions. They should be able to direct their anger in a way that is productive, not destructive.

Various Council members including Councillors Hider, Sharps, Dumanowski (who is also seeking re-election) and mayoral candidate McGrogan appeared to actually blame Clark when she chose to take the sanctions to a judicial review. The judicial review by Justice Nation found council members were “incapable of making reasonable decisions” in their unfair sanctioning of Mayor Linnsie Clark. Nation upheld the apology requirement and sent one sanction back to council only because the judge did not know the layout of City Hall, the rest of the sanctions were vacated.

Now, with that city manager suspended and a municipal inspection confirming that our city was being run in an “improper, irregular and improvident manner,” it’s clear: the problem was never the mayor. The problem was an “Old Guard” that resisted transparency and accountability at every turn.

I believe Clark was not given a proper chance to lead because she threatened the status quo.

I believe this council's term was sabotaged. A now non-existent “news" source called the Sun City Sentinel run by a local wealth advisor certainly helped fanned the flames of discord. Coming into existence mere weeks before the Shitshow Showdown, this "news" source used its platform to post salicious anonymous unverified gossip.

I'm the one who discovered who was behind the "news" source. I don't imagine they were too happy about that. We have very few investigative journalists in this city, I don't think he was expecting to get found out. His mistake was underestimating me.

Past council members (one now running for councilor jinstead of mayor) jumping in on local legacy media calling this Council a "train wreck" and suggesting that the mayor should resign all played their part in discrediting this council.

I watched at the August 18 2025 council when the mayor's legal fees came up. Sun City Sentinel founder Craig Elder was sitting with current council candidate Troy Wason and former council member (and current council candidate) Brian Varga. Elder seemed to be keeping his eye on Councillor Hider (Elder gave Hider and Hirsch $1000 each for their 2021 campaigns). Elder, Wason and Varga were seen nodding and looking pleased as the bulk of the mayor's legal fees were denied. (L-R Varga, Wason, Elder).

Medicine Hat deserves better than this. We deserve a city council that works for the citizens, not for its own selfish interests or capacity for drama. While drama at City Hall is great for news organizations like my employer The Medicine Hat Owl, it's not good for business or the public.

I want to express my admiration for Mayor Clark during this whole mess. I may not agree with her on everything but she stood her ground for months when she was opposed by all 8 other council members. Through all the accusations and mud slinging, she stood her ground with professionalism and dignity, even when all 8 councillors stood united against her. That takes a spine made of steel.  

That is very rare.

Adulting for Our City

People tend to behave better when someone is watching, someone they know will not compromise their own principles. I am a watchdog journalist; that means my job is to hold governments accountable. 

Leadership

For me, leadership is not about directing people from a position of authority, but about setting an example and building collaboration based on shared principles: integrity, transparency, and respect for the rules.

A city council is a team of neighbours tasked with solving problems. That means listening to all sides, seeking common ground, and understanding that the rule of law—our bylaws and procedures—must come before personal allegiances. This means working respectfully with everyone, but never compromising on core principles of good governance.

I have actually had far more success in making change happen by engaging with city staff. When I sent my ideas to Council members, nothing happened; most times I did not even get a reply. I sent those same ideas to staff, they ran with them and came up with something better than I could imagine (the Rec and Ride Pass this summer, plus adding 3 holidays for transit service and extending Saturday transit hours). It did not even have to go to council for approval as it did not require a budget amendment.

I certainly did not "direct" them to do anything. I merely shared my thoughts, which sparked better ideas in people who know far more than I do about how to make them work. The people in the trenches are the ones who know how things run, how they can implement new ideas within their existing budget.

If candidates want to be on council so they can get their own way, they do not deserve to sit at the horseshoe.

If candidates want to be on council so they can tell people what to do, they are sadly mistaken as to what their role will be.

Individual Council members cannot direct any employee. Only the collective Will of Council can direct their sole employee - the City Manager.

Leadership Often Looks Different in Women Than in Men

We’ve just witnessed a brutal example of what old-school, force-based leadership looks like: it’s adversarial, it’s punitive, and it fails the public trust. Women often lead by fostering consensus, by reading the room for unspoken concerns, and by prioritizing the long-term health of the team over short-term wins. This isn't about being “softer”; it’s about being strategic and effective. It’s the strength of getting things done not because people have to follow, but because they are rallied to a common cause of doing what’s right.

This is the leadership I will bring to the city council:

• Unwavering Integrity: I will be present, prepared, and principled, using the same dedication I show as a journalist to ensure transparency and uphold our bylaws—without exception.

• Collaborative Reform: I will work with any council member committed to implementing the inspector's recommendations and installing the clear, fair procedures needed to prevent this from ever happening again.

• No Drama, Just Data: The political circus ends when we prioritize process over personality. My goal is to make headlines about our new parks and efficient services, not about internal dysfunction. We should be focusing on paving roads and responsible budgeting, not on personal vendettas.

The judicial review and municipal inspection have handed us a roadmap for repair. Our city deserves council members who have witnessed the failure firsthand and is committed to being part of the solution. It’s time to turn the page on the Old Guard and get back to work that benefits all of the people, not just a chosen few.