With the next municipal election now one year away, Steinbach Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra is encouraging potential candidates to begin thinking seriously about what public service requires. The election will take place on October 28, 2026, when voters across Manitoba will select their local councils for the next four years. Reflecting on service At Monday night’s council meeting, Zwaagstra opened with remarks noting the milestone and offering advice to anyone considering running. “Well, here we are, October 21st, 2025. Do you know it’s only one year away? That’s right, election time is coming right up,” Zwaagstra said in his opening remarks to start the meeting. “For those new candidates who are thinking about running next year, I wanted to give just some words of advice based on some things I’ve learned over my time on council.” He noted that council members must be prepared to make difficult decisions and to balance a wide range of responsibilities, from budgeting to bylaw updates to working with neighbouring municipalities. “To put it bluntly, if you don’t like making tough decisions, don’t run for council,” he said. “I can guarantee you that at least some of the decisions you make will disappoint one group or another in the city. That is the reality of politics.” Lessons from experience Zwaagstra, who was first elected to Steinbach City Council in 2006, reflected on his early years in office and how his approach has changed over time. “During my early years on council, I thought far too highly of myself and my opinions,” he admitted. “While I was able to win some votes on council and get some good media attention, it took me a while before I learned to appreciate that being a councillor is about being part of a team.” He said teamwork and collaboration are essential to making effective decisions, noting that every member of council has been elected to represent the community. “It’s through the discussions and deliberations with our fellow council members that we eventually come to the decisions that set the direction of our city,” Zwaagstra said. Beyond the council chamber In an interview after the meeting, Zwaagstra expanded on his remarks, explaining that now is the time when potential candidates begin thinking about whether to run. “This is the stage where people who are thinking of running for council start putting plans in place,” he said. “I wanted to take the opportunity to give some words of advice based on the experience that I’ve had on council over the years.” He said one of the most important things to understand is the constant public visibility that comes with the role. “If you do decide to run for council, it is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week commitment,” he said. “That means talking about council matters at the grocery store, at church, at your family gatherings. Basically any opportunity, and often when you’re not even in Steinbach, people will still ask you questions about it.” Encouragement to serve Zwaagstra said while the job can be demanding, it is also deeply rewarding. “Hopefully these words of advice don’t dissuade people from running for council because we do need good people to run at all levels of government,” he said. “While this job is challenging, it is also incredibly rewarding. There is no greater honour than being involved in the decision-making of the fastest-growing and best city in the province.” He added that being elected to serve the people of Steinbach has been “an incredible privilege” and said he looks forward to seeing who steps forward in the next election.