Newly-minded Stettler Mayor Gord Lawlor comes to the role with plenty of experience and awareness of the community at large -- as a town councillor and a long-timer business owner.
"I'm a two-term, eight-year-long councillor. When I started that journey, it was a learning curve right from the very beginning," he said. "Once I developed a rhythm, I also found I was involved in a number of projects I really wanted to see through. So as the second term was winding down, I decided that yes, I was going to do this," he said, of running for mayor.
Some of those ongoing initiatives that inspired him to seek the mayor's role include collaborating with the Clearview School Division on a new elementary school build, a potential multi-plex, and a major facelift to the local middle and high schools, he said.
"I want to make sure we still 'on the pile'," he added of where Stettler stands in terms of accessing funding for these projects.
"So that is a firm goal I want to collaborate with Clearview on. Coincidentally, I also drive a school bus part-time, so I have an iron in both fires," he added with a laugh.
Another key area of focus for Lawlor, a trained goldsmith who ran Lawlor Jewelry for several decades, is accessing infrastructure funding for the community in general.
"We all campaigned on affordable housing, more rental housing, and bringing new industry and businesses to town -- those are all goals that we have individually and collectively."
Essentially, it's also about establishing connections with, and being an advocate for, one's own community.
"It's all about conversations."
During the campaign, Lawlor, who has called Stettler home for 31 years, said he had to work on being more vocal about his goals and visions for the community, along with his contributions over the years.
"This is who you would be getting as mayor. (The campaign) also made me identify all of the things I have done as well. I've received the long-time service award for the Heartland Youth Centre for volunteering for 30 years with them, for example. I was also blessed to have our MLA both nominate and present me with the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee medal for my volunteerism as well.
"I'm the neighbour. I'm the guy who is there -- who shows up. And that is how I campaigned. I am who I am, and you know what you are going to get. I'm involved."
Ultimately, part of what has fueled Lawlor's journey in municipal politics is what he call his passion for people.
"Also, my passion for this community. Those two things, blended together, make a person well-suited to the role," he said.
"(I like) answering people's questions. I'm a businessman on Main Street. I'm accessible -- people have come in the door, and said, hey, I have a problem with this.
"And so here's the thing -- you will always get the truth from me. You may not like the answer to your question, and you may not be satisfied with the result to your concern, but it will be the truth."
Lawlor, who has also been a very strong advocate for libraries, is also keen to work with other municipalities, as doing so often directly benefits things on the local front, too.
Case in point -- providing support to the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre. Although based in Red Deer, Lawlor said the organization has helped 15 children from the Stettler community.
"That organization is really helping youth and children," he said.
Council went on a tour of the facility, and the decision was clear.
"That what it is also about -- looking after our community by also choosing an out-of-town organization that serves our community as well."
Meanwhile, in a smaller community, serving on council in general isn't a full-time job.
"When you are dealing with a community the size of Stettler, you don't quit your day job. Some people in larger centres may not always be driven by the right motivations, but in our size of a community, it's a calling more than a career."