University manager McCormick enters council race

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This article was published 30/07/2022 (1304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City council candidate Michael McCormick has only lived in Brandon for two years, but he’s already fallen in love with the city — so much so that he’s made “fall in love with Brandon” his campaign slogan.

The director of physical plant at Brandon University is the latest non-incumbent to put his name forward for this fall’s municipal election in what is currently known as Richmond ward, but will be renamed Ward 8.

McCormick’s job involves taking care of safety, buildings and general infrastructure at the university.

Originally from Ontario, McCormick told the Sun this week in an interview that his life took him to Alberta for various jobs, Halifax to work for Canada Post, and even the Caribbean island of St. Kitts as a resort engineer before making his way to the Wheat City.

Currently, he also serves on the board of directors for the Helping Hands soup kitchen on Seventh Street.

“I’ve had experience working in government and being accountable for spends,” he said. “Looking at how you create opportunities for improvement through innovation, which is either through sustainability or just basic quality engagement programs.”

In Brandon, he said, he discovered a beautiful community featuring neighbourhoods with character.

“I come with an outside perspective on things I’ve experienced elsewhere, but also can look here at how we can enhance the value we already have,” he said of his decision to run.

Driving down 18th Street on his first visit, he said he remembers being struck by the diversity of food options and amenities.

“The Manitoba licence plate says it’s a friendly province, but it does speak true of how people welcome you to the city,” he said. “My wife’s name is Tammy — she moved with me. We invested in a home in Ward 8 on Ninth Street. I’m excited for it. It’s very diverse in terms of demographics.”

That diversity, he said, is not just in the kinds of people who live in the ward but the diversity in the price point and style of homes that are available.

Residents passing through the ward might have seen McCormick’s election signs, the first to go up in this election cycle. He said he’s also knocked on doors to meet residents and handed out door hangers advertising his candidacy.

He said residents expressed concern about the endangered small white lady’s slipper orchids that grow on a lot near First Street and Patricia Avenue, the condition of roads, parking on residential streets, snow removal and the accessibility of bus stops.

Currently, the city is working on large infrastructure projects like upgrades to the water treatment plant, drainage upgrades in southeast Brandon and wastewater service upgrades in the city’s southwest.

To help pay for some of those projects, the city proposes to increase the water and wastewater utility rate and borrow tens of millions of dollars.

With his experience managing infrastructure, he was asked how he thinks the city is handling these processes.

Like a lot of governments and organizations, McCormick said he believes Brandon is struggling with inflation and the difficulties of having infrastructure reach the end of its lifespan.

As Canadian citizens, McCormick said residents expect a high level of service, and the challenge is finding a way to find the money to bring these services up to expectations.

“I think a lot of it has to do with prioritization,” McCormick said, adding it’s not entirely a matter of getting the biggest bang for your buck, but choosing projects that reach the biggest number of people.

McCormick said people are looking for a safe environment, diversity, inclusion and clean water. After his experiences improving energy efficiency at BU, he wonders if city facilities can benefit from Efficiency Manitoba programs to install more efficient light sources.

Asked what he would bring to the table if elected as a new voice on council, he said that Richmond ward residents have lacked representation since Coun. Ron Brown took a medical leave more than a year ago.

“It is unfortunate and we can be empathetic when somebody’s ill, it’s an unfortunate circumstance that they’re not available, but there was no option for who was going to replace or provide backfill,” McCormick said.

“For me going on council, I think every ward should be represented and I think it is the responsibility of council to have an active member.”

Election day is Oct. 26

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