By Lara Fominoff @fomsy1 on Twitter

Mark Campbell & Belinda Crowson: two new faces on Lethbridge City Council

Oct 16, 2017 | 10:38 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A former media personality and an historian are the two new faces to join Lethbridge City Council for the first time.
 
Mark Campbell, who spent more than four decades working for local media outlets, including the newspaper and Global TV, as well as four different radio stations, including Country-95.5, will be one of those taking a seat in council chambers next week. It was his first run for public office.
 
He says he’s feeling humbled and overwhelmed by the whole process.
 
“It really is a learning curve when you get into council. There’s so many things I don’t know right now… that’s something that I’m going to have to learn.
 
“Boy, there’s a lot of people in council right now that are incumbants and they know so much more, and I’m so thankful that I’ve got good relationships with them, because I want to work together with them, and make the right decisions as we go forward.”
 
He believes what gave him an edge, was his many years of media experience and his approachable personality.
 
“I’ve just had that great opportunity to talk to so many different people, whether it’s a non-profit, a political person or an entertainer. It’s all those years of making connections. That was part of my platform. You know, you make relationships, and relationships really matter. So I think that made the big impact.”
 
Belinda Crowson also knows a thing or two about relationships, as the former Educator at the Galt Museum. A longtime resident of the city, Crowson has written a number of books on its history, and has also volunteered for organizations like the Lethbridge Historical Society, Heart of Our City Committee, and YWCA International Women’s Day Committee. She is also a member of the University of Lethbridge Alumni Society.
 
She says she’s honoured to be trusted by Lethbridge voters with her new position, and is also the only female candidate elected to City Council.
 
“There were some amazing women that were running, so I’m surprised that I’m the only one, because there was such great strength and knowledge in the other seven who ran. But I will do my best to bring ideas to the table on behalf of all Lethbridge, but also of course, as a woman, I will ask different questions than the other seven around the table.”
 
Crowson believes what set her apart from the other candidates on her first try for City Council, was her knowledge of the history of the city.
 
“I bring out the context, the historical issues. I know the background. And so when we’re discussing something, I can bring that with me anytime I’m at the table. The other thing about being a historian is I know how to analyze complex problems, I know how to look at things from multiple perspectives. I hope to bring all that skill and expertise to the table.”
 
The new councillors will join incumbants Joe Mauro, Blaine Hyggen, Jeffrey Coffman, Jeff Carlson, Ryan Parker,and Rob Miyashiro.