By Greg Higgins

Cathy Richardson is running for re-election to reduce crime

Oct 3, 2016 | 1:51 PM

Rooted, reliable and ready to serve are what her signs say and one councillor says she plans on making North Battleford a safer place.

North Battleford councillor Cathy Richardson is running for re-election on Oct. 26. After sitting at the council table for the last four years she hopes to make it another four.

Richardson’s platform is based on making North Battleford a safer place.

“Crime and community safety is number one on most people’s minds,” Richardson said. “Some people believe it’s just a perception we have a difficulty with crime, but that’s not the case…There are those in the community that have been targeted or hit many times. For them it isn’t a perception, it is very real.”

According to Richardson, council has the programs in place to lower the city’s crime. She wants to see those programs through and make a difference. Part of that involves engaging and expanding programs like the Community Safety Officers, she said, adding the city still ranks atop the crime severity index.

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Richardson said the second issue she wants to tackle is relationship building within the city.

“It’s not only building relationships with the homeless,” Richardson said. “We have to build relationships with all the new immigrants and First Nations in the surrounding area and within the city. We need to work together. We have so many strengths and I think our diversity is a strength.”

Richardson added even though the two are separate issues, strengthening relationships in and around North Battleford will help lower crime rates.

Richardson moved to North Battleford in 1984 to work as a speech and language pathologist for the Living Sky School Division.

Richardson said her family completely supported her decision to run again, even if it meant spending less time together.

“I think actions speak for a person,” Richardson said. “We complain about things a lot, but aren’t willing to actually step up to the plate and learn about issues. I think that’s what led me to step up to the plate to serve the community.”

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.