The former mayor of Beaverlodge has made her way back to the public sector. Leona Hanson has been hired as the new Chief Administrative Officer of the Village of Hythe.
Hanson served as Beaverlodge’s mayor from 2007 to 2017 when she chose not to run for re-election. During that time she was able to operate her long-time consulting business, but says she won’t be able to continue in her new position.
“I’m just looking at a change of career; the management skills side of it is transferable, which is great. I’m excited to be working with Greg Gayton, who’s the CAO here right now, and working with him through the transition.”
Gayton is retiring, but the two should have several months together before then. Hanson says she enjoyed her past in municipal government and is looking forward to working with the village council.
“I’m the resource to council and hearing from them what their vision is, what they’d like to see for the community and then my role is to help them to see that happen.”
This isn’t the former mayor’s first time working in Hythe. She says she spent about five years managing a business development centre there years ago.
“So I’m familiar with the community and the communities are so interlinked as well so it was exciting from that perspective too.”
Hanson’s first day was Monday and there’s no date set yet for Gayton to leave. She says he’ll likely take the lead to start.
