Mayoral candidate Kody Trafiak says he would like to see more accountability in the municipality.
Trafiak has called Drayton Valley home for 24 years and now runs a business in the oil and gas industry, while also raising a young family in the community.
“I’m running for mayor because I want to see more accountability in our town, and I have firsthand experience with many of the issues Drayton Valley faces,” says Trafiak in an email interview.
He says he can relate to residents who are angry about the crime in the community.
“When I see vehicles being broken into, stolen, or burned, I know what that feels like because it’s happened to me. When I see addiction on our streets, I understand the heartbreak, shame, and sense of hopelessness that comes when someone you love goes down that path,” he says.
Trafiak believes that more can be done to address some of the issues the community currently struggles with. He believes elected officials running a municipality need to be comfortable with not only running the community, but answering for mistakes that are made.
“If elected, I am committed to reducing crime, addiction, and poverty, while increasing both financial and direct accountability from our elected officials and public services,” says Trafiak.
Years of operating heavy equipment, working on drilling and service rigs, and working in radiography have taught Trafiak about the importance of efficiency. He believes fiscal responsibility is important for the community and the Town could cut costs if certain processes were more streamlined.
If the Town is running efficiently and making every dollar count, property taxes could safely be reduced, he says.
“I also aim to ensure fiscal responsibility and work toward sensible property tax reductions,” he says.
Trafiak says he wants to see changes in the community.
“As I mentioned, I can relate directly to the frustrations many people in our community feel, which motivates me to work toward meaningful improvement,” he says.
The long hours it takes to run a municipality aren’t a deterrent for Trafiak. With his work experience, he is familiar with working for long stretches with little rest. He says he has always been a hard worker and dedicated to getting the job done to the best of his ability.
As an employee, he’s spent time building teams, training people, and supervising water transfer projects. As a business owner, Trafiak has developed financial and leadership skills. It has also taught him the importance of accountability.
“I believe these experiences directly translate into the qualities needed to be an effective and productive mayor,” says Trafiak.
But in the end, what matters to Trafiak most is the well-being of the community. He believes the best hope the community has is council’s ability to work together toward a common goal.
“I am deeply grateful for all the support I’ve received from my family, friends, and this incredible community. Win or lose, my hope is that our elected officials work together to make Drayton Valley stronger and more resilient.”
