Nick Sackville enters race for Ward 3 council seat

The race for the Ward 3 council seat is heating up early in the municipal campaigning season.

Nick Sackville announced his candidacy for the vacant seat on Thursday.

Ward 3, which covers nine different residential communities including Blairemore, Fairhaven and Pacific Heights, is an open race after Coun. Ann Iwanchuk announced in June she would not seek re-election.

Sackville is hoping to continue along Iwanchuk’s path.

“I had a conversation with Ann, and I wanted to make sure that we’re making good decisions on behalf of the residents of Ward 3,” Sackville said. “Ann’s been passionate and I wanted to continue and show that passion in my work as well.”

With Iwanchuk dominating with 73 per cent of the vote in 2016 after originally landing the seat in a byelection, Ward 3 is expected to be a hotly contested council seat for a council known for making decisions with 6-5 votes.

The day Iwanchuk announced she wasn’t running for council, former Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce chair Chris Sicotte launched his campaign.

“I’m seeing a lot of action now, but I think we’ll have to see how that plays out,” Sackville said about the race for council’s only uncontested seat.

Sackville grew up in Ward 3 and returned to the area after spending time living in Red Deer.

After walking across the street to Herbert S. Sears Park to launch his campaign, the government relations and member engagement manager with the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders Association hopes a platform centred around policing, affordability and “elevating the west side” make him a clear choice on voting day.

“Public safety is something that comes up a lot,” Sackville said. “A lot of people also feel like the west side, especially Ward 3, has been neglected. I think we need to be doing a better job of making sure that we’re having those good conversations and making good decisions in terms of planning and public safety.”

Sackville would like to take a step back and look at policing “more holistically.”

“That includes making sure that police and fire (department) are properly funded, but I also want to make sure that we’re giving appropriate resources to make sure that we’re also reducing the harm of addictions and of homelessness,” he said.

Municipal elections in Saskatchewan are to take place Nov. 9.