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Compare Taproot Survey responses from up to four candidates side-by-side
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Mixed
Which would you prioritize in your role during the budget process?
Holgerson
Scrutinize the budget in detail.
Candidate comments:
“We must reduce waste in all things we do in Edmonton, carefully examining the budget for issues is the first step.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your view of the most important function of a councillor?
Holgerson
Visionary leader.
Candidate comments:
“Finding solutions for the issues while being financially responsible is crucial to moving the City forward”
Mixed
Which would you prioritize regarding property taxes?
Holgerson
Lower taxes by cutting spending.
Candidate comments:
“We must find additional revenue streams. Encourage tourism, encourage investment, use specific levies to more fairly distribute city financial needs.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your view on 15-minute districts?
Holgerson
Intervene to incentivize more mixed-use development and local services.
Candidate comments:
“It is proven that mixed use design leads to a happy and productive city. For decades we have dissuaded mixed use development, it has become a foreign idea in Edmonton. We have made a hash of the 15 minute community idea, Speck would be dismayed. It would be lovely if mixed use would be market driven, at this point we must actively create opportunity to developed mixed use. with permitting to start”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your approach to development outside Anthony Henday Drive?
Holgerson
Set a firm growth boundary.
Candidate comments:
“As I travel around the new developments on the south end of town I see that we are repeating the same mistakes that has cost us so much over the last 40 years. lots of SFD, too much parking, poorly designed and constructed condo and apartments, We will not be a happy, thriving city as long as we insist on surrounding ourselves with bad design. We need to get it right first, then grow.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to how you would guide infill development?
Holgerson
Proceed as allowed under existing rules.
Candidate comments:
“Again None of the above, The bylaw is badly written, but to halt business while City hall gets it figured would hurt many people in many ways. "stronger regulations" is how we got into this mess in the first place. Too much push back, uncertainty, miss-interpretations to go forward with 20001 as written, The new Council will need to work fast to rewrite the bylaw and avoid infill meltdown.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to how you would incorporate climate change into decision-making?
Holgerson
A climate lens on all decisions would create unacceptable costs and delays.
Candidate comments:
“We do more climate damage with inconsistent and hypocritical decision making. Waste is very damaging, Constantly second guessing previous decisions are very wasteful. Short term projects that need to be replaced or altered in under 15 years are financially and environmentally damaging. Projects that impede growth, movement and innovation are damaging.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to how you would approach parking in commercial areas?
Holgerson
Reduce parking and reallocate land to other uses.
Candidate comments:
“Statistics show that there is 40 to 60% more parking than is actually used, We have 4+ parking spots for every registered vehicle in the city, Parking pushes everything further apart, wasting one of our most valuable assets, Land. I know this is an unpopular position, but it is a hard truth that we spend billions on roads and a large part of that is parking. We have a huge over-supply of parking.”
Mixed
Which would you prioritize for downtown revitalization funds?
Holgerson
Grow the residential population.
Candidate comments:
“People in the downtown core is the best way to revitalize our city. Density, tax base, thriving businesses, homes, activities. resilience against the raise and fall of outside economic forces.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your position on public funding for the arts?
Holgerson
An economic driver, so prioritize projects with measurable economic impact.
Candidate comments:
“We all know, or should know that the arts not only increase the quality of life for the citizens of Edmonton, but provide employment, investment, and innovations to our community. It is imperative that well thought out and versatile facilities be included in future plans for the City. This would include public washrooms, transportation, outdoor venues, think band shells in our parks.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your approach to economic development?
Holgerson
Remove barriers to business growth.
Candidate comments:
“We regularly see business find locations outside of the city to call home, meanwhile business in the city are struggling without seeing much benefit for their tax dollars. We must remove permitting and taxations barriers, and welcome the growth of existing companies and the establishment of new industries, We must get out of the way potential employers, and investors.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your approach to development in the river valley?
Holgerson
Increase accessibility and public amenities.
Candidate comments:
“I have spent up to 900 hrs. a year in Terwillegar park over the last 9 years, the "amenities" are vandalized routinely. So far in 2025 the facilities have been burnt to the ground 4 times! with all the ecological damage residue. it is long past due that we provide real amenities to this popular location. First we build a strong model in that park and use that model to build in the other areas.”
Mixed
Which would you prioritize regarding aging recreation amenities?
Holgerson
Decommission aging facilities and build replacements.
Candidate comments:
“It will not get cheaper to build these facilities. If we focus an great design, great construction, with the help of better contract writing we can get this done. We have learned from the Bonnie Doon pool that trying to extent the life of existing facilities is NOT the way to go.”
Mixed
Which action would you be most likely to advocate for on homelessness?
Holgerson
Build and operate more permanent supportive housing.
Candidate comments:
“This is a complex problem and a single strategy is going to work. The ordinary hard working Edmonton people have told me that they have had enough of encampments, panhandlers, backyard and garage thefts, and the trash that the homeless have left behind. We must work hard with the Provencal Gov. to focus on mental illness. Use proven treatment strategies to move people off the streets.”
Mixed
Which action would you be most likely to advance to alleviate the housing crisis?
Holgerson
Lower costs and remove barriers for private and non-profit builders.
Candidate comments:
“Building codes are not being enforced, with out quality we will never see the other side of the housing crisis. The city is not meeting the responsibilities of inspections, planning, permitting, and infrastructure I do not think we have explored all the options. I look around our city and wonder at the vacancy of some areas. Expectations may need to shift. flexibility in thinking would help.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your view on political parties at the municipal level?
Holgerson
Members of council should be free from party affiliation.
Candidate comments:
“I am not affiliated with either party as they are. I did investigate the parties, I looked at the parties formed in Calgary and found them all too ideological for myself and the city, that being said I respect the freedom to make my choice and that is extended to all potential candidates”
Mixed
If the provincial government intervenes in a municipal matter, which would you prioritize?
Holgerson
Negotiate with the province to ensure the best practical outcome.
Candidate comments:
“Trust needs to be built between all levels of government, animosity helps no one. Laying blame, finding fault only serves to educate and prevent a repeat of unwanted future outcomes. To move forward we must negotiate. likewise we can and should insist on reasonable, fare treatment from Dreeshen, et.al.”
Mixed
If the City of Edmonton faces public pressure to fund services under provincial jurisdiction, which would you prioritize?
Holgerson
Redirect public pressure to secure sufficient provincial funding.
Candidate comments:
“There are many areas of responsibility the Provence has failed to act upon. It will take a great deal of negotiation. The Relationship between the City(s) and the Provence needs rebuilding, it will take time, persistence and integrity. Ultimately, weather it is Provincial taxes or city taxes the resources come from the same population, stewardship from all levels of government is imperative.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your view of the City of Edmonton's responsibilities regarding Indigenous relations?
Holgerson
Engage with Indigenous communities on specific issues.
Candidate comments:
“We must be asking "What do you want?" and "How do we move forward?" The indigenous are all part of our city, we must be partners.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your guiding principle for council's relationship with the Edmonton Police Commission?
Holgerson
Primarily provide stable funding and work through commission processes.
Candidate comments:
“We ask so much of our police officers. Some of our representatives, have in the past, made some ridiculous and disrespectful comments about our EPS. Comments that have not basis in fact. I would advocate for a respectful, cooperative relationship with our police. Stable funding is necessary for a high functioning service.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your approach to Edmonton's role in the metropolitan region?
Holgerson
Re-establish a strong metropolitan approach with shared priorities.
Candidate comments:
“What Edmonton does effects all the neighboring communities, these are reciprocal relationships, working together will save all of us money, provide seamless transpiration, business growth, shared improvements, and strength.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your view on how major projects have been delivered?
Holgerson
Performance is unsatisfactory because project management and execution are poor.
Candidate comments:
“Over riding issues may be poor contract writing, poor estimations of actual costs, Projects need to be better designed, more robust. Priorities need to be re-evaluated. Construction time lines need to be adjusted within the contracts to smooth out overlapping congestion. It may be costly in the short term, but less wasteful overall.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your approach to building new capital projects?
Holgerson
Build only if private partners or other orders of government contribute.
Candidate comments:
“Sadly we have not been good stewards of the public purse and now we must face the outcome of poor choices. Without partners we will have to be very carful what we build.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your position on roadway expansion?
Holgerson
Investing in transit would be a better use of funds than expansion.
Candidate comments:
“As uncomfortable as we have made it, Public transport, active transport are the only cost effective methods for moving people to the places they want to go. We can look back and thank Robert Moses for the transportation crisis, it is important to remember that Robert Moses never drove himself.”
Mixed
Which of the following comes closest to your approach to strengthening council accountability?
Holgerson
Implement transparency tools other than a lobbyist registry.
Candidate comments:
“As a person of integrity I would encourage transparence in public activities. Finical honesty is the only way to gain the support and trust needed to be an effective city government.”
Mixed
Which action would you be most likely to advocate for to improve community safety?
Holgerson
Invest in addressing root causes to reduce disorder.
Candidate comments:
“This problem will not be solved with only one approach, I would actually choose the 3 top answers. We have spent a great deal of money on the problem of safety with limited success. I would advocate for a bold, multi facetted move to community safety with an emphases on personal responsibility. We get to choose what kind of city we live in, a safe city will take all of us.”
Mixed
Which action would you be most likely to advocate for to improve street safety?
Holgerson
Increase traffic-calming measures.
Candidate comments:
“There needs to be a "none of the above" or "all of the above". I do have a position. First we need to work with the Provincial government to improve driver skills levels. Our streets will never be safe with the very poor drivers that populate our streets. Second, enforce the traffic safety laws that already exist, with prejudice. Third employ better design practices, and Better signage,”
Mixed
Which action would you be most likely to advocate for on bike lanes?
Holgerson
Build less than is planned.
Candidate comments:
“We have messed up the idea of bike lanes. Before we build more lets get the designing right. we need to look at what we are all ready doing well and expand on that. It is not hard to see where the bike lanes and sidewalks need to go, just follow the goat paths, build connections so what we have is better utilized.”
Mixed
Which would you prioritize for snow clearing?
Holgerson
Spend the same amount.
Candidate comments:
“Knowing what will happen with snow removal is as precise as a weather forecast. Each year is different, every year new ideas and new problems occur, we must be flexible, and courageous in our approach to concurring Mother Nature”
Mixed
Which would you prioritize for high-capacity transit?
Holgerson
Continue expanding light rail transit (LRT).
Candidate comments:
“for over 10 years we, the residents have wanted LRT out to the airport, the slow construction timelines, the design, construction mistakes and the awkward plan changes to appease the vocal minority have frustrated the citizens of Edmonton near to the braking point. Like several issues in Edmonton we need to get transit right, cities all over the world have done it, there is no reason we can not.”
Taproot Survey
Where do you stand on issues raised by voters in the 2025 municipal election?