“I’m a people person so I like meeting people.”
That’s amongst the motivation that has brought Jean Mills-Applegate forward as a candidate running in the municipal election for council. The long-time Lloydminster resident will be a familiar face to many as she held a position working at the City of Lloydminster.
“Working for the city I’ve seen a lot and I’ve heard a lot, a lot of complaints, through the years I just thought about it,” said Mills-Applegate. “We have a lot of issues out there, some people approach me and tell me these issues, I figure the only way to bring it to someone’s attention is by running for city council.”
She says she can help voice these issues she’s heard.
“Everybody needs a voice out there and I’m willing to be that voice,” she said.
Mills-Applegate says senior’s housing is an important issue.
“So many people in this town that are residents, they have to take their elderly parents out of town because we don’t have accommodations for seniors,” she said.
She says people have approached her and asked about the senior’s housing situation.
“We’re pretty much chasing seniors out of their hometown because they have nowhere to go when they need a nursing home.”
Mills-Applegate offered her own perspective on the homeless situation in Lloydminster.
“In my eyes, these people are only going there to find a place to sleep and eat,” she said.
She says regardless of where the people that are on the streets here in Lloyd are from it’s not easy to solve the issue.
“Maybe we can start some kind of program where you check into the men’s shelter and you’re only allowed to stay there a week,” said Mills-Applegate. “We don’t know what kind of issues these people are going through, what kind of issues these people have.”
In her platform she talks about the difficulty some people are facing with the increasing taxes.
“I started off with my campaigning on the north end of town and I went through different businesses and their taxes have gone up so high they were thinking of pulling out of the city and going on the outskirts,” said Mills-Applegate. “That’s sad, why can’t we keep that money here? Why are we chasing these businesses out of town.”
She says she wants to see taxes get lowered. Mills-Applegate also talks about the need for affordable housing.
“You have to be able to afford your mortgage and be weary about your taxes because in the meantime, your mortgage isn’t going up but your taxes are going sky high,” she said.
Health care is a topic that Mills-Applegate wants to see some changes in.
“I think we could use more doctors,” she explained. She continued explaining an incident she had at the hospital where her appendix was going to burst and the surgeon was unable to see her until the following day.
“In the meantime the clock is ticking and my appendix burst,” said Mills-Applegate. “For three months, every day, I had a nurse come in because I had a big hole in my stomach
Her experience made her realize the city is in need of more doctors. Mills-Applegate also covers the need for public safety citing speeding vehicles around town. She says she’d like to see more RCMP and bylaw to help deal with the issue of public safety in the city.
Mills-Applegate when asked why people should vote for her says she can speak for the public.
“Because I’m honest, vocal, I will speak for you, if you want me to speak for you I will,” she said.
Her campaign for a council seat focuses on unity.
“No matter what colour you are, you’re still a human being, you’re still a person. You’re still somebody’s family,” explained Mills-Applegate.
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