Nick Paladino, Lethbridge City Council candidate. (Photo courtesy Nick Paladino)

By Justin Goulet

Nick Paladino running for Lethbridge City Council this October

Sep 6, 2021 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A man with strong ties to the public service sector is in the running for Lethbridge City Council.

Nick Paladino is one of the candidates for a council seat in next month’s municipal election.

After attending Lethbridge College and earning a diploma in Engineering Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Paladino worked as a draftsman at the City of Lethbridge for about six years.

He then moved on to work with Lethbridge County for 30 years as the manager of planning and development. Paladino believes his experience would be an asset as a city councillor.

He told LNN that, “the Government of Alberta encourages inter-municipal cooperation between municipalities that are together, like the [Lethbridge] County and the City [of Lethbridge].”

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

“With my background, I think I maintained a pretty good relationship with both the staff and council over at Lethbridge County as well as the villages and towns within. I think I can draw on my contacts to help build a stronger region.”

Paladino retired roughly eight years ago, and explained of his role with Lethbridge County that, “it was specifically public service, so helping people get through the regulatory process, if you will – ratepayers and landowners that needed help, from simply filling out an application to, you know, showing up at council for a rezoning or something like that.”

He added that he’s maintained a good relationship with the staff he still knows and believes the County and City can be stronger by working together.

“Those same contacts at the County should be included in discussions when the City starts talking about the airport and how it’s governed and I think on a regional basis, I think we can make some good projects in their area. I believe what’s good for the City is good for the County, and vice versa.”

NOT HIS FIRST GO-AROUND

Paladino had previously run for Lethbridge City Council in 2017, finishing 10^th in the polls. He said he wanted to give it another shot and bring some change to the city.

As for his priorities, he told LNN that, as he’s heard from many members of the community, “the current council is spending a lot of money on things that are ‘wants’ as opposed to things that are ‘needs’.”

“So, I think that’s the first thing. I would encourage controlled spending.”

He said he also supports all programs “that would foster development in the downtown, whether it be residential-commercial mix and I also support all initiatives that will attract clean, industrial and commercial development to the city.”

“I don’t know everything about everything, so I’m going to rely on staff at some point. You give them direction with what you want to see and then you send them back and hopefully they come back with some good initiatives.”

More on Nick Paladino is available here.

General voting day for the 2021 municipal election is October 18.