Steinbach city councillor Jac Siemens will run for re-election this fall. Siemens has served for the past 12 years and would like to do so for at least another four. He says his motivation to be a councillor comes from the joy of helping make decisions to guide the city's growth.

"We don't always see the results of the decisions immediately, but in the longer term, you see the results. We see the results like improved bike paths through our community. I'm especially proud of Bush Farm Park, that trail through there. We see an improved #12 Highway over the last two terms, we see growth in our industrial, not enough, but we certainly see growth as a city. So, you make decisions and then it takes years, sometimes, to see the results of those policy decisions."

Siemens adds he will continue his commitment to go and talk to people involved in various issues so that he can make informed decisions.

"If we have a variation request or a request from a neighbourhood, I think it is important for a councillor to go and seek advice from the person who is telling the story or who is making the request. There is also the administration side, they are the ones who guard our policy that we make. They understand it better than the councillor does and so they provide us with that feedback. And then there is my perception, gathering all the information and putting my thoughts to the whole thing. One of my strengths is being a critical thinker."

He also believes that moving forward, city council needs to be more intentional in attracting manufacturers and other businesses to Steinbach.

"We do need to be more outward looking when it comes to attracting new business to Steinbach. And business does not mean retail, it means manufacturing jobs, it means filling our industrial parks. How do we do that? I think that is one of the priorities of council, moving forward, that I would like to see. How do we provide more economic viability to Steinbach through the attraction of more businesses?"

Siemens says council must also continue to focus on advocacy to make sure the city's voice is heard at the regional, provincial and national levels when it comes to things like grants.