There is going to be an election in Ward 5 of the Rural Municipality of Hanover. That is because Darrin Warkentin has announced he will challenge incumbent Councillor Gord Meneer in the October vote.

Warkentin is a lifelong resident of Kleefeld. He says through numerous volunteer positions with his Church, the Kleefeld Recreation Association and other organizations, he finds great reward in serving the community. Warkentin says he is blessed to live in a community centred around family values, hard work and charitable giving, and is committed to representing these values on council.

Warkentin says he understands the challenges residents face on a daily basis and believes a councillor is needed who will work constructively with residents to have these challenges addressed.

If elected, Warkentin says his number one priority will be to push for responsible use of taxpayer dollars. His second priority is growth.

"I think Kleefeld has seen a lot of growth in the past few years, a lot of young families," he says. "So I would like to position ourselves to meet that growth and the challenges that brings."

Warkentin says he believes council needs to be strategic in how the municipality invests its tax dollars.

"I think we need facilities and programs that are geared for these young families and also for seniors and everybody in between," he says. "But I think we need to be purposeful in that, we also need to be purposeful in building community."

Warkentin says he would also like to bring 'honey' back to the Honey Festival. The council candidate says some residents of Kleefeld are concerned with the direction the Honey Festival has taken in recent years. He knows there would be support for change.

"Public service has always been important to my family," he says." I hope to continue that legacy with my own personal touch."

Warkentin says this decision to run for politics is something he has been pondering for a while. He notes there is a need for change in the Kleefeld ward, in trying to bring community back. Warkentin adds the response towards his campaign has been overwhelmingly positive.