WESTLOCK – The Morie name will ring a bell for many in Westlock as Shirley Morie sat as mayor for three-consecutive, three-year terms after being elected in 1995. And now it is her daughter's turn to take a crack at local politics.
Following in her mother's footsteps, Laura Morie is hoping to take one of six seats on Town of Westlock council, running against seven other hopeful candidates in the upcoming Oct. 18 municipal election.
“My mother was a great inspiration for me and always has been,” said Morie. “She liked to empower people and I was very proud of her when she was mayor. It really inspired me to run.”
After growing up in Westlock and working as a financial consultant for 22 years before retiring in 2020, Morie is ready to once again help the community with sights set on economic development and infrastructure.
“I think we have a good capital infrastructure plan. As always, small rural municipalities are constrained by the revenue that they take in, but I think we have made a good plan with reasonable priorities. I think they have accounted for unexpected events and there’s been good financial management. But there’s also room to advance.”
While praising past plans and priorities, Morie says that some advancements need to be made, starting with the removal of aging infrastructure and the construction of new buildings as well as expanding various programs the town has to offer to youth and seniors, noting the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a need for additional support.
“Government is all about economic ideas. I believe I’m a good listener and I have had these conversations before with clients and I think I have an idea of the community I think people want to live in. We want to be a community for all.”
With an extensive 20-year background with the Westlock Rotary Club, including sitting as the district governor from 2016 to 2017, Morie says she knows what the community wants and says that, if elected, she can bring new ideas to what she calls an already strong council.
“I have the time and the energy and the skills and other unique perspectives I can bring to council.”
With goals in mind, Morie hopes to take one of the six available seats as she runs against new candidates Chad Cloutier, Abby Keyes, Jon Kramer and Brenda Lussier as well as incumbents Curtis Snell, Murtaza Jamaly, and Randy Wold.
“I love Westlock,” Morie concluded. “It’s the little community that could.”
