MOOSE JAW — Darrell Markin announced that he will be running for a position on Moose Jaw city council in the upcoming civic election. Following his announcement, the Moose Jaw Express reached out with a few questions on Oct. 26.
Q: “What motivated you to enter public service?”
A: “I love Moose Jaw and want the city to thrive, grow, and be the best it can be,” Markin said. “I have always thought it was important to give back to the community if you thought value could be provided.”
Q: “How would you describe yourself as both an individual and as a candidate?”
A: Markin described himself as “a great listener who loves to learn.” “I am a candidate that will be present and take notes from others on how we can make our community safe, vibrant, and grow (it) to the best of our ability.”
Q: “How do you stay connected to the community?”
A: “I sat on the Moose Jaw Warriors’ board of directors since 2012 to 2024,” Markin replied. “I was a Moose Jaw Police Commissioner from 2019 to 2023.
“Both these organizations are pillars to Moose Jaw’s community,” he said. “These positions have helped me understand the importance of bringing our community together, the value of feeling that our community is safe, and knowing we are protected from a professional police service.”
Q: “How would you describe your vision for the city?”
A: “I want Moose Jaw to grow and for companies to know that the city is open for business,” Markin said in his reply. “I want to see our tax base expand and for every person to be able to enjoy Moose Jaw, whether they are a resident or a visitor. I know we can get there.”
Q: “How will you ensure accountability and transparency in your role?”
A: “I want to encourage community participation by inviting our citizens to town halls and surveys,” he said. “Listening to the community and demonstrating accountability and a commitment to representing our residents is vital to my mission.”
Q: “What are your top guiding values?”
A: “My top guiding values are transparency, an openness in the decision making process, and the sharing of information when it best serves our community,” Markin said. “I value empathy as it enables me to connect with the community and respond to their needs.”
Q: “What would you say are the top three issues or concerns that you would like to address?”
A: Markin said that he believes a new council will deal with issues including the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) that are “very important to the fabric of our community.” “We must continue to find a fair and equitable way to assess properties — both from a business and a residential perspective.
“We need to address our city dump site,” he added, saying that “we don’t have much time left to get a new dump up and running.”
The third issue Markin brought up is to find a solution to the homelessness issue. “There are many people (that are) currently homeless, and (some) families are on the verge of facing the issue themselves,” he said. “It is very important that we help find a solution — not years from now, but now.”
Q: “In your own words, why should people vote for you?”
A: “Citizens want someone that will represent them while being transparent, accountable, and who can show respect and empathy,” Markin replied. “I have the courage to make difficult decisions rather than just continue to be in the status quo.
“If you want Moose Jaw to continue to move forward and to spread the word that Moose Jaw is open for business, look no further than Darrell Markin.”
Markin said he’s ready to help the city move forward. “I love Moose Jaw,” he declared. “We have the greatest people, and together, we can do a lot to create the best community. We have to work together and consider one another as a team.
“Let’s move Moose Jaw to be the best place to live in Canada,” Markin concluded.
You can reach out to Markin by emailing him at [email protected].
A complete list of election candidates with a link to their interviews can be found at "MJVotes24: A list of all 29 candidates in upcoming civic election."
The upcoming civic election will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
