bill pratt promises a 'refresh' if elected as regina's mayor this fall
"we seem to be sleeping on many issues," regina's newest mayoral candidate said at a campaign launch on tuesday evening.
sep 11 2024
4 minute read
bill pratt announced his official campaign to run for mayor of regina this fall during a speech at the path cowork offices on tuesday, september 10, 2024 in regina.
kayle neis
/
regina leader-post
bill pratt didn’t mince words while publicly declaring himself as a candidate for mayor of regina in the 2024 municipal election.
speaking to a room full of supporters, more than half wearing chartreuse campaign buttons on their lapels, pratt promised tuesday at his campaign launch to be a “refresh button” at city hall.
he’s among five hopefuls who’ve thrown their names into the mix for the city’s top seat this coming november.
“i care very deeply about regina, and i’ve been watching for the last three years and becoming quite uncomfortable with the direction we’re headed,” he told reporters after exiting the stage to great applause.
“we seem to be sleeping on many issues. we’re developing a chasm between city council, the mayor and the citizens of our city and, in order to clear that, clear those behaviours, we have to hit the refresh button.”
having worked in the charitable sector for various organizations at local, national and international levels over the last two decades, pratt said his experience has given him the leadership skills needed to chart a new course for the civic ship.
his most recent role was as ceo of eden care communities, which operates assisted-living, low-income and care-home facilities and programs in regina, moose jaw and saskatoon.
advertisement
advertisement
pratt has served on boards with the public advisory council of the health data research network of canada, the regina airport authority, ymca of regina and the jane goodall institute of canada.
he also has previous experience as executive director of a charity operating shelters and halfway houses in halifax, along with serving on the boards of cancercare nova scotia and feed nova scotia.
pratt said his approach would seek to lead a city council that exemplifies “integrity, cohesion and respect,” make choices that “align strategy with policy and budgets,” and build trust from the public.
“our council chambers is an intimidating place where the mayor has created an environment that portrays them as better than us,” said pratt.
“we should be a reflection of our residents, not an elitist group that only represents the few with the loudest voices, the best friendships with the mayor and the biggest wallets.”
bill pratt announced his official campaign to run for mayor of regina at the path cowork offices on tuesday, sept. 10, 2024.
kayle neis
/
regina leader-post
pratt presented a pro-business take on the path needed to see regina thrive, and a soft spot for burgeoning issues like a flatlining tourism industry and the homelessness crisis.
his values as a candidate include ensuring regina’s spending matches its tax base, furthering development of a more inviting downtown, and leading a city that is cognizant of “the social well-being of its citizens.”
advertisement
advertisement
“when the business community is thriving, it gives us more flexibility to resolve the complex and heartbreaking social issues that we face as a city,” he noted.
pratt also said he’s in favour of doing more than “checklist consultations” when it comes to engagement with the public on big issues, and to ensure strong transparency from elected officials, himself included.
if elected, pratt pledged to hold monthly office hours at recreation centres in rotating neighbourhoods. that’s in addition to hosting ward town halls every four months and making his calendar of meetings public at the end of each month.
“you’ll be able to see who was met with and what we talked about,” he explained. “you need to know your mayor is not catering to special interest groups. councillors will be encouraged to do the same.”
pratt said his no. 1 priority on the campaign trail over the next nine weeks will be to speak with as many people, organizations, clubs and associations as possible in order to hear their priorities.
“our city deserves to be known for its goodness, not amateur antics at city council, not slogans that insult and embarrass our citizens, not the mayor failing to take responsibility for their mistakes,” he said.
advertisement
advertisement
“it’s time to revive the art of living well together. that doesn’t mean we all have to think the same; it means that we have to respect each other.”
pratt will be challenging incumbent sandra masters, who is seeking re-election for a second term. first-timers to civic politics brandon abtosway, shawn sparvier and kevin kardash have also said they will seek a spot on the ballot.
the formal nomination period for candidates running for mayor, city council and the school board of trustees begins on sept. 25. municipal election day for regina is scheduled for nov. 13, with local polls open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
voters can register online with elections regina until oct. 22, or in person at the polls on election day with a filled-out registration form.
info cards for regina mayoral candidate bill pratt sit on a table during his campaign launch at the path cowork offices on tuesday, sept. 10, 2024.
kayle neis
/
regina leader-post
the regina leader-post has created an afternoon headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. click here to subscribe.
with some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. click here to subscribe.
share story
