Debra Button has declared her intention to seek the leadership of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association at the organization's annual meeting in the coming year.
Now in her third term as Weyburn's mayor, Button has actively addressed civic affairs at the local, national and international level. Now she intends to turn her attention to advancing issues of importance to local administrations to the provincial scene.
Button identified four key or foundational issues she will champion in the new role - Infrastructure, Municipal Operating Distribution Grants (Revenue Sharing), Housing and Environmental challenges for local government.
"Each of these issues is large and represent significant challenges for all orders of government but nowhere is that more evident than on the municipal scene," said Button in declaring her interest in the role of SUMA chair. "My involvement with FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) over the past three years has given me a sound understanding of the issues and how they impact local government whether that is in Weyburn, throughout the province or across Canada."
Button also earned international experience having served as a Canadian representative to Ukraine where civic leaders from the two nations explored common issues and challenges.
However, it was the issues she faced at home that give her the experience required to pursue the job of senior spokesperson for Saskatchewan's urban governments.
"We've faced floods. We've dealt with water treatment issues. We took the challenge of housing supply in a rapidly growing community head on. These are the issues SUMA members face every day and I hope to share the experience I gained in dealing with these challenges with other local leaders by becoming SUMA's president," she added.
"I have worked with all orders of government representing all political stripes, something that has given me a deep understanding of the political process beyond my hometown's boundaries. And I hope the leaders of Saskatchewan's urban municipalities will see me as a positive option to head the organization that is their primary voice at the provincial level," Button concluded.
