The lineup in the starting blocks for the mayor's race in Airdrie is becoming crowded.  

Five candidates have declared their intention to seek the mayor's chair in the municipal election coming up in October.  Blaine Astra is one of those candidates.  Astra says he isn't running because he believes Airdrie needs to be "fixed." He thinks it only needs to be "tweaked."

"Airdrie doens't need fixing.  It doesn't need someone to come in and kick over a can of gas and start everything on fire, because it doesn't need that.  It does need a little tweaking, and we've got to look forward to the future."

Astra is a commercial vehicle safety officer who has lived in Airdrie for 15 years.  Traffic concerns in and around Airdrie are his greatest concern for the city. If he's election, he plans to focus on the corridor between Airdrie and Calgary.  

"It's archaic.  It's certainly lacking the ability for Airdire to grow safely.  It's horrible during those rush hour periods.  There's certainly things we can do.  The mayor is the first step.  Mr. Brown does a pretty good job but he's not a salesman and what Airdrie needs as a mayor is a salesman.  A salesperson is the mayor's position, and I'm a pretty good salesman."

Astra says he wants to hold officials in Airdrie accountable.  "I am for sure a person who holds people accountable.  There are a few things I'm reading about now that really people need to be held accountable.  Accountability adds efficiency."

Astra looks at his run for mayor as an entry into the political world.  "I don't think this will be my last step into politics."

The other candidates who have said they'll let their name stand for mayor include Nikaela Barton, Charlotte Blackwell, Fred Burley and Marie Lauer.  The municipal election is set for October 16th.

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