Incumbent North Battleford council candidate Kelli Hawtin is excited at the possibility of continuing to serve her community. (Submitted Photo/Kelli Hawtin)

By Josh Ryan

Kelli Hawtin

Hawtin looking for re-election on North Battleford City Council

Oct 20, 2020 | 5:00 PM

After more than six years on the North Battleford City Council, incumbent Kelli Hawtin is excited at the possibility of serving for another four.

Having lived in the Battlefords since 2007, she said the community has provided her many opportunities for work education, and business. Owner and operator of Hawtin Plumbing Services with her husband Mitch, Hawtin said she really enjoyed the last two terms in council and feels good about their record.

“We’ve made a lot of progress by way of infrastructure, relationships with our neighbouring communities and advocacy for our region,” she said. “I’m really excited to hopefully continue that work.”

Because it takes time to adjust to the process of city council and further learn the concerns of residents, Hawtin said she feels ready to hit the ground running on work already started. She was originally elected during the by-election of 2014

“Having six-and-a-half years gives me the ability to build on what we’ve already been working on,” she said.

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Hawtin said she wants to continue to support regional relationship building, particularly with the surrounding Indigenous communities. She credited the Battlefords’ two mayors, the respective Chiefs and other leaders in this effort.

“Those folks meeting monthly through the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement is going to be the way forward to advance economic development and our voice with the provincial and federal government,” she said. “I think it’s going to be the way forward to work on any deep-rooted issues in our community.”

Hawtin said she still hears concerns from citizens regarding crime and that’s something they will have to keep addressing. In regards to the effects of the COVID-1 pandemic, she advocated for continuing to assist business owners and residents in any way they can.

“We do have a lot of retail businesses that have struggled, so we have to find ways to help them bounce back,” she said.

At the end of the day, Hawtin said she’s focused on creating a better community for families and future generations. A mother of two daughters, she said all of her ideas and thoughts as a councillor are informed by the mindset of being both a parent and business owner.

“That’s at the heart of where all of my decision making, discussion, and questions come from,” she said. “I just want us to continue to be a community that advances and offers a high level of recreation services.”

Kelli Hawtin has previously worked in the sales department of CJNB, of which battlefordsNOW is affiliated.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports