Lawrence Lee, chair of the Red Deer Public School board, will be on the list of candidates for City council this fall.
Lee, a married father of two, was first elected to the board in 2004, and he has served as board chair for the last three years.
He has lived in Red Deer for almost his entire life. He is also employed with ALA Capital Inc. as a senior analyst.
“I thought it might be time to take the skill set I’ve gained in the school board and make that available to the City,” he said. Building and maintaining healthy relationships with various stakeholders is one of those key skills that would be beneficial, he said.
“I’ve really learned that on the provincial stage because school boards are very reliant on the provincial government to fund what we do,” he said. “Certainly as chair, I’ve been able to build those relationships throughout the province and throughout the City.”
Lee said that he and his family have always been active in community and business life in Red Deer. “I do have a vested interest in watching this community grow. I see the potential.
“We’re also at a critical point. The decisions we make going forward will really mark what five to 10 years down the road will bring.
“I think that what citizens and elected officials need to do is a constant review of what City government is doing, and always using that lens of looking inside and saying ‘Why are we doing the things we are doing?’”
Meanwhile, Lee is excited about connecting with the community as the campaign moves forward. “I’m always energized and enthusiastic about the democratic process. It’s always a time to really engage with the community and show them the importance of what their voice is.”
Lee also serves public school education at the provincial level as a director for the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta.
Other roles have included being on the committee of nominators – Red Deer & District Community Foundation and being a past board member for the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.
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