| Position | Candidate Name | Responded |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Benjamin Biel | ✅ |
| Rod Frank | ✅ |
Question 1
What work experience do you have that’s relevant to the role and how do you feel the skills and perspective you have gained will help you in your role?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: I bring more than 20 years of leadership experience in industrial construction, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. My career has been about finding practical, win-win solutions between contractors, regulators, and clients — balancing safety, efficiency, and cost. That skill set translates directly into municipal leadership: open to feedback, pragmatic, results-driven, and grounded in mutual benefit.
Rod Frank: I have eight years experience as Mayor, 30 years experience in the private sector, and previously was a corporate lawyer. Serving as Mayor has given me direct experience in municipal governance. The private sector provided a background in leadership, and a career as a lawyer provides analytical skills to make informed decisions.
Question 2
What do you think are the biggest issues affecting Sherwood Park are, and how would you approach these issues?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: The most frequent complaint I hear from residents is that they didn't know about projects and changes until they happened and that their local ward councilor only seems to be accessible during election years. I would look to modernize the councils communications tools and approach to include shorter more frequent engagements on social media (to match the culture) and seek higher levels of understanding and by in from residents prior to project implementation. An annual "Public Satisfaction Survey" that polls 1.3% of the population hardly qualifies as community engagement. The most frequent complaint I hear from business owners is that our local regulations often exceed provincial and federal guidelines adding extra costs without additional benefits to the community. I would propose a streamlined system to review variances to regulations to ensure our business owners can have common sense solutions while maintaining community standards.
Rod Frank: The current top issues include inflationary times, the affordability crisis, and unstable national and international politics. My clear vision to face and deal with these challenges and future issues is to lead with the highest-level municipal services (fire, policing, roads, transit, family supports, recreation, parks and culture), while not downloading on the taxpayer. Focus will be on an agile and responsive culture that supports all of the community, and citizen satisfaction.
Question 3
What do you think is the role of a municipal government? Do you think the County does too many things, not enough, or just the right amount?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: Municipal government should excel at core services: roads and utilities, fire/EMS, policing support, transit, parks and recreation, land-use planning/permitting, and economic development. This is the right amount although an argument could be made that putting Education under the municipal jurisdiction would allow for greater flexibility and better outcomes while not adding greatly to the administrations burdens as the school boards already exist in the local communities.
Rod Frank: Municipal government should stay in its lane, providing fire, policing, roads, transit, family supports, recreation, parks and culture and not venture into areas outside its jurisdiction. We are doing an excellent job in Strathcona County, with over 90% citizen satisfaction.
Question 4
Do you think property taxes are too high, too low, or just about right?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: About right
Rod Frank: Taxes are never too low! Having said that, during my tenure cumulative taxes are 10% lower than inflation - meaning in real dollars taxes have been cut. Few governments can make that claim! We have amongst the lowest taxes in Alberta, and 95% of our revenues go to services for citizens, not to banks to pay debt.
Question 5
Over the next four years, should the County spend less in absolute terms, increase spending but by less than the rate of inflation and population growth, increase by the rate of inflation and population growth, or increase faster than the rate of inflation and population growth?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: The county should maintain spending on critical infrastructure and maintenance based on population growth and inflation while cutting back on nonessential project spending.
Rod Frank: The rate of inflation and population growth is a reasonable guard rail over all. From year to year, however, there could be variances up and down driven by external factors (e.g. recession, grant cuts, revenue increases).
Question 6
The County often claims that they’ve found savings in various budgets, but instead of actually cutting spending, they just put the savings into a reserve account and then spend that money on other things. If there’s money left over at the end of a financial year, do you think that money should be saved up by the County to spend in future years? Or should it be returned automatically to taxpayers the following year through some kind of rebate?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: Budget savings should be used to pay down debt, build emergency funds (not pet project funds) while maintaining those savings to defer tax increases.
Rod Frank: Surpluses in the standard range of 3% to 5% have a role in the reserve strategy to be available for emergencies to protect the taxpayer. In excess of that should be considered for rebates.
Question 7
Everyone says they support affordable housing, but what does that term mean for you? Do you think the County should be subsidizing housing for lower-income residents? Or focused on keeping the cost of all housing from getting out of control? Or perhaps some combination of the two? If so, how?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: Inflation and population are the main drivers of housing costs which the County has no control of. The County's best approach to housing costs it to maintain sustainable urban growth, streamlining the development process to keep costs lower and work to attract new industry and economic growth to create better jobs. Heartland Housing Foundation works in the county to help the financially vulnerable to access Provincial and Federal programs and funds.
Rod Frank: The County has a role in lowering development and building costs by reducing red tape, and having competitive taxes for suppliers. Beyond that, we are mandated by provincial legislation to support Heartland Housing in its role to support lower income residents.
Question 8
How do you view the role of public sector unions in County operations, and what steps would you take to ensure union negotiations do not compromise fiscal responsibility?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: I’ll bargain in good faith to honor the work our employees do, and I’ll protect taxpayers by insisting on transparent, data-driven, sustainable agreements that improve services and keep budgets predictable.
Rod Frank: Governance role is to oversee and empower administration to negotiate contracts that are fiscally responsible.
Question 9
Do you think the County should be making long-term climate commitments like “net zero by 2050”? How much of a priority should climate change be for Council compared to other issues like affordability, public safety, or infrastructure?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: The County should prioritize affordability, public safety, infrastructure and economic growth. Federal and Provincial policy should set the guidelines for environmental concerns.
Rod Frank: First, we work with our industry to support sustainability under their lead with emission targets, hydrogen production, carbon capture, co-generation, and biofuels. Second, the County has broad environmental targets, but I do not support net zero by 2050. Equally important is job creation, investment and economic development.
Question 10
Businesses are facing rising costs and supply chain challenges due to escalating U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. What, if anything, should Council do to help local businesses manage these impacts?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: The best thing that the Council can do is listen and understand the challenges of local businesses and then advocate for solutions at a Provincial and Federal level.
Rod Frank: Our role includes advocacy to other levels of government. To fight back in the 2025 tariff war, below you will find a Canada - Alberta First procurement motion (and accompanying argument) that Strathcona County passed unanimously (8-0) on March 11, 2025. As well, you will find a motion that passed unanimously on April 1, 2025, to identify and minimize risks associated with the tariff war. Canada - Alberta First Procurement Motion Served by Mayor Frank March 11, 2025 THAT Administration review procurement policies and practices to ensure that the County procures all required goods and services from sources that are Canadian, Albertan and from countries that Canada has a relationship or free trade agreement that is being honoured, and report to Council with options for any next steps by the end of April, 2025. Passed unanimously. Motion for April 1, 2025 to identify and minimize risks associated with the tariff war Mayor Frank’s Notice of Motion passed unanimously on April 1, 2025 that Administration prepare a report for Council's consideration by the end of June, 2025 with an assessment of the key risks and areas of concern associated with the tariff war and foreign exchange fluctuations, their potential material impacts on municipal operations and procurement, and key findings and recommendations to address challenges and mitigate risks. The motion was supported unanimously by council.
Question 11
What steps should Council take to reduce regulatory burdens and support small businesses in Sherwood Park? Please explain your reasoning.
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: The Council can help provide common language guides to help navigate Federal and Provincial regulations, advocate for red tape reduction, and streamline and reduce local bureaucracy.
Rod Frank: • Businesses face issues similar to individuals: inflationary times, the affordability crisis, and unstable national and international politics. • I have addressed affordability through a strong economic base and low taxes; and the instability of other levels of governance through advocacy. • But one of the biggest challenges unique to business, from a municipal perspective, is red tape. • Businesses sometimes are challenged by lack of communication and slow processes. • But the Customer, that is the citizen and companies doing business here, is King. • I have, and will continue to, solve the red tape problem by developing our business culture. • This includes supporting our Administration streamlining processes. • One example is simplifying application and approval processes. And I get incredibly positive feedback on this. Our admin does not say “no”. they say “yes” or “here’s how” • We hold meetings where business owners can provide feedback on policies. • Also, I encourage proactive information sharing: • One of my “go – to’s” is supporting business development through a strong economic development team, and AIHA membership.: We lead with incentives for large scale industrial developments. • Unleashing the power of free enterprise is of great benefit to Strathcona County, and I will continue to do that.
Question 12
Municipal elections have historically been contested by independents, but many of our supporters have told us that they’d like to know the political alignment of the candidates as it helps them get a better feel for a candidate's beliefs. So, are you are affiliated with any provincial or federal political parties and, if so, which ones and why?
Mayor
1 To Be Elected
Benjamin Biel: Let's keep party politics out of municipal elections, roads and rec centers don't care.
Rod Frank: I am an Independent. Thank you for the questions!