Dwight Logan says he is excited to see what the future holds for Grande Prairie’s new city council. He stepped down after his most recent term ended before this fall’s municipal election. That marked his fourth term as a councilor in addition to three terms in the Mayor’s chair.
Logan began serving on council in the 1983 during what he recalls was a rough time for the city. He says people were moving away, businesses were going in to receivership and the municipal government at the time was struggling to maintain services, especially social programs. That was something he says he fought to save with out increasing spending.
“It was remarkable there were people, managers and politicians, coming from other places across the province to see what we were doing. How we were able to start a reduction in our rate of taxation.”
He says one of the biggest reasons he joined council and served for as many terms as he did was because he felt like he was contributing. But he says he was excited by some of the candidates who approached him about running in this past municipal election. But he says extremes are a negative in municipal politics especially.
“So I am really hoping that the people that come on don’t come on as single issue people. Don’t come on with axes to grind. Come on and contribute. Learn and contribute.”
Logan says he plans “to stay out of the way” now that he is retired from council. He also plans to continue his work on various boards, saying his work for the John Howard Society in particular is something he’s really enjoyed.