A small business owner is running for the Ward Five seat in the Rural Municipality of Hanover.

Ed Martens owns a construction business with his brother. Martens says his profession could help him as a councillor.

"I know that every dollar counts and you have to be extremely careful as to how you use your money and how you use your funds and where you invest your money," he says. "I think that would be a huge asset for me to be in council and to make sure that every dollar is accounted for."

Martens says if elected, one of his priorities will be to improve safety in the community of Kleefeld. He says there needs to be safe access to the park, especially for children.

"That there are sidewalks that the children can walk and that they can be safe and that they can cross the highway and not feel like they are going to get run over," he says.

Another priority is to improve gravel roads in the municipality. Martens says roads are deteriorating and council needs a solid focus on how to bring them back to an acceptable standard.

Martens says as a councillor, he would also like to encourage businesses to invest money within the municipality. He would also like to make sure communities have sustainable housing, including a balance of high density and single family dwellings.

"To build and to grow in a positive direction and to make sure that the RM has an outlook that is sustainable for our children and grandchildren," he adds.

Martens says as a ratepayer, he doesn't always know how his tax dollars are being spent. As a councillor, he would like to highlight transparency, honesty and accountability.

"That's what I want to bring to council and do my work to the best of my ability and to bring transparency to the people that pay taxes and to the area," he says.

Meanwhile, he says it is a little too early to comment on whether he would support raising taxes as a councillor.

"But I feel fairly confident in saying that I feel we do pay enough tax that we can make a very sustainable plan for the future for our children and grandchildren without needing to raise taxes."

Martens notes this decision to run for the Kleefeld area seat is one he made already nearly a year ago. He says as a Christian, he felt convicted to step out of his comfort zone and just go for it.

"Christ has a way of convicting people and He's done that for me and that's what's first in my life and it's a huge priority for me not to be ashamed of it and to volunteer in the community and apply myself wherever it is," he says. "At this time I feel it's God's calling in my life to run for council and to serve Him in that way."

This is the first time Martens has run for office. He says he has done other things over the years like volunteering, coaching and reffing and this would be the next step. And Martens says so far, the response has been great regarding his candidacy.

Martens is running against Darrin Warkentin and incumbent Councillor Gord Meneer in the October 24 election.