Randy Bot is new mayor of Esterhazy
November 19, 2024, 11:09 am
Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Former town councillor Randy Bot is the new mayor of Esterhazy.
Bot ran against incumbent Mayor Grant Forster, winning the race with 558 votes to Forster’s 214 votes.
After the election, Bot was quick to share his enthusiasm about the new makeup of Esterhazy Town Council. Maggie Rowland and Martin Pfeifer are returning to the table, but there will be four new faces as well.
“It’s exciting, I think, getting some new perspective in the council room,” Bot said. “I see every new council member and what they bring, and that’s exciting.”
Dana Paidel, Bryant Campbell, Nichol Kripki, and William Gale are the new councillors.
“One of them’s kind of newer to town, I know she’s been here for a few years now, but I would still say she’s newer to the community,” Bot said. “We have some youth in William, and that brings a new perspective on accessibility, we have Dana, who’s a business owner, and he’s dealt with different things, such as unions and stuff, so it will be nice to get his expertise in those areas. So I think we’re doing really good. I’m very excited to see where we’re going to go from here and get a brand new, fresh start.”
One of Bot’s priorities during the election campaign was if elected, he would hold regular office hours in order for members of the public to chat in person with their mayor.
“Having that one-on-one off the street, you’re in the office providing a safe space for anybody to bring their questions or concerns,” he described. “Just to allow people to come in and have conversations, share their ideas, and listen to the voices of the residents. The taxpayers, they’re who we’re working for.”
With flexibility from his job on weekdays, Bot is confident he will be able to have the time required for an office presence.
Overall, Bot was pleased with what he’s seen from the new council.
“Nobody’s coming with an agenda type of thing,” he said. “A lot of times, you see maybe a little bit of negativity coming from councillors, and they’re running because they don’t like what’s going on, and they want change. I think these people are just here to support the process, just help Esterhazy become an even better place to live. I’m excited to work with everybody, and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish in four years. I’d like to look back in four years and see the changes that we’ve made as a team and the positivity that we bring to the community.”