Candidate Profile -- Lars Hansen

LEDUC -- Councillor Lars Hansen is looking to become the new Mayor of Leduc.

Hansen has been on City Council since 2017 and will be looking to take over the role of Mayor in Monday's vote. He says one of the biggest challenges for Leduc's next council will be managing capital investment.

"We can certainly keep up with the growth of the City of Leduc, but if we're not being judicious with those capital investments into infrastructure, then that's when the growth can be unsustainable," said Hansen.

Leduc's population has grown by more than 10 per cent since 2019, and is expected to continue on the same trajectory in the coming years. Speaking to 93.1 The One, Hansen says he believes he would be the right choice to manage the City's rapid growth.

"We'll have all this new property tax revenue from these new homes," said Hansen. "We need to reinvest it into roads, recreation services, green spaces -- to ensure that we can accommodate that significant growth in population."

Hansen was born and raised in Leduc and attended Leduc Estates School, Leduc Junior High School, and graduated from Leduc Composite High School in 2011. He completed a degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta in 2016, and currently owns and operates a local business. Hansen talks about why residents should support him for the position of Mayor.

"I have eight years on Council and I chair the Water Commission here in the region," said Hansen. "So, I've led an organization, I've led meetings, and I know how to work with the bureaucracy to get things done."

One of Hansen's recent accomplishments as part of the Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission is the recent Nisku Booster Station, which will increase water capacity for all of Leduc County.

Hansen will be up against Don Inkser and Sam Dalupang in next week's Mayoral election. One of these three individuals will replace current Mayor Bob Young, who will be retiring from politics as of October 20th.