Brittany Merrifield plans on running for Mayor of Grand Bay-Westfield. (Submitted)
Brittany Merrifield hasn’t changed her mind; she’s still running to become Grand Bay-Westfield’s mayor.
She originally announced in February last year after the current mayor Grace Losier announced she would not be running again. Then COVID shut everything.
“So I’ve been ready for a year, the ensuing twelve months has actually really cemented my desire to run for the seat and I’m ready to get this party on the road,” she said.
Merrifield said she’s always been one of those people who volunteer for everything and this is taking it to another level for her.
So far, she’s the first to announce as a candidate.
She’s appreciative of the work the previous mayor and council, especially the incredible job they’ve done fiscally and wants to focus on the quality of life, which is why people stay or move in.
“So one of the things I want to do is focus on growth stability, business development and I also want to focus on recreation and leisure because those are all of the things that bring people to our community and we want strong, thoughtful sustained growth,” she said.
Merrifield said she wants to engage the community on these items and include the experts on panels and discussion to make and implement the plans to make all these things happen.
She said she’s been heavily involved in different community initiatives whether it’s delivering sandbags to people with flooding houses, the community centre and the planning advisory committee so she knows the nuts and bolts involved in running a municipality.
When it comes to pandemic support, she’s also been involved with the team working on food security. Merrifield said her record proves that people can trust her because she’s committed not just to the town, but to the people who live in it.
“I love the people that live here and I want to be in a position where I can really affect some change and I can make some material change in peoples’ lives. One of the reasons municipal politics really appeals to me is because it’s so grassroots. You’re right there with the people that you’re living with and I want to be able to make a difference at that level,” she said.
Merrifield said there are different levels at which you can help other peoples’ lives but when you’re at a level of mayor and council, you’re working with all levels of government to make policy changes that can affect people’s lives and she thinks she can be effective at that level.
When it comes to campaigning for mayor while following COVID restrictions, Merrifield says she was really looking forward to going door to door. She said it’ll have to be creative with phone calls and virtual contact and mail drops for those who don’t like to answer the phone or don’t have access to social media or the internet.
Merrifield said she feels incredibly privileged to even make the decision to run for mayor.
“I’m a woman, I’m a single mother. I’ve got four children and I’m running a small business. The fact that I’m able to do this and say that I want to serve is just a really special thing,” she said.
“I want to set an example for my children, for my daughter, for any other woman out there who is considering throwing her hat in the ring. I want to see as many women in politics as possible, we need more women around the table and if I can motivate even one person to make that decision, then my decision will have been worth it.”
The Grand Bay-Westfield municipal election will take place May 10th. Candidates can start campaigning in March.
