By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Ross Morrell joins the race for City Council

Jun 5, 2017 | 5:42 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A second candidate has emerged in the race for a spot on Lethbridge City Council this fall.

Ross Morrell spoke with Lethbridge News Now on Monday (June 5), and took some time to discuss why he’s decided to dive into municipal politics.

“I don’t want to say that there’s anything wrong with the council that’s there now, because they’re doing the best they can, but I just think that fresh blood, new ideas, might help make a change.”

As for his major campaign points, Morrell says there are a few problems in Lethbridge, and he believes they’re tied into a lack of affordable housing.

“Right now, there’s nothing here for people and they end up leaving and moving out of the city,” explained Morrell. “I think that’s another reason that causes so much homelessness in this town as well, is the fact that there’s just not affordable housing. I think we need more apartments, more housing that can drop that rate down.

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“We have two amazing post-secondary schools here – the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College – and so many students go to those and then they end up leaving our city,” Morrell continued. “We’re losing out on new talent, again because of the housing situation here.”

While discussing his qualifications, Morrell said he’s been an entrepreneur and businessman for most of his life, and expects to bring a business mind to council. He also went over the experience that helped point him in this direction.

“I spent the last three years working on the Canadian Vaping Association, sitting as a board member there, and we really made some huge changes dealing with government on all levels, from municipal to provincial to federal, and I really enjoyed it and I thought this would be a good opportunity to continue that on.”

Morrell joins Nick Paladino in the race for a council position, with the deadline for nomination papers to be filed set on Sept. 18.

The Civic election has been scheduled for Oct. 16.