By Kevin M. Klerks, Candidate Red Deer City Council 2025

If you voted in Red Deer’s 2025 municipal election, you probably remember the long lines, the crowded polling stations, and the frustration of seeing people leave without casting their ballots. It wasn’t because Red Deerians don’t care — they care a lot — it was because the system itself struggled to keep up.

We need to look honestly at what happened and think about how Elections Red Deer can make 2029 smoother, fairer, and more accessible for everyone. Here’s what I’ve seen and learned:

1. Bring back more polling stations.

In 2017, Red Deer had roughly 14 polling stations, but that number dropped to 8 in 2021 and then to 7 in 2025, because the city chose to reduce the locations. Compare that to Lethbridge and Grande Prairie, which have similar numbers of eligible voters and still manage with only 3 polling stations each. So, was the number of polling stations really the main problem behind long lines in Red Deer, or were there other administrative issues at play? On top of that, over 10,000 residents had to re-register this year, which slowed things down even more. It’s clear that careful planning — not just more polling stations — is essential.

2. Open polls earlier.

Starting at 10 a.m. was tough for many, especially parents or workers trying to squeeze voting into a busy day. Opening at 7 a.m. would help spread out the crowd even more and give everyone a fair shot at voting without causing confusion. It’s a simple change that could make a huge difference.

3. Manage lineups better.

Waiting in line is frustrating, and some voters left before casting their ballot. Using timestamp cards could help staff track how long people are waiting and identify bottlenecks, giving Elections Red Deer real data to improve efficiency in future elections. Tracking line times more carefully could prevent people from leaving and missing their chance to vote.

Take Parkland Mall, for example. They had 8 sign-in tables but only 4 polling booths, all squeezed into a space half the size of the location used in the last general election. That makes you wonder why the layout wasn’t adjusted to match voter volume, and whether space and resource allocation might have contributed as much to the delays as the number of stations itself.

4. Focus on accessibility.

Voting should be easy for seniors, parents, and people with mobility challenges. Seating, priority lines, and extra volunteers make a huge difference. Some challenges, like parents needing to care for children during the teachers’ strike, are beyond the city’s control. Elections Red Deer doesn’t provide childcare, but malls or community centers used as polling locations could consider having a drop-in center on-site, so parents could vote without disrupting their day. Choosing locations with these facilities could make a real difference for families.

5. Learn from the special ballot issues.

Special ballots were mailed out, but a postal strike meant some never arrived. Offering local drop boxes or in-person pickup options next time would prevent this problem and ensure everyone has a fair chance to vote, even when external factors interfere.

6. Collect and publish feedback.

Residents need a chance to share their experiences and suggestions. Publishing feedback openly would help everyone see that input is being taken seriously and improvements are actually being implemented.
7. Communicate clearly.

Delays and unclear instructions confused a lot of voters. Live updates during counting or a results dashboard could give everyone confidence and prevent misinformation or frustration. One factor to consider is that other cities use wards, which lets them release results faster because each ward is tallied independently. Red Deer counts by poll, which takes longer and delays results city-wide. Could learning from other cities’ ward system improve transparency and speed in the future?

8. Raise awareness.

Some residents didn’t even know an election was happening. Posters, social media, local radio, and community partnerships could fix that. We need to make sure newcomers and less-engaged residents know the dates, times, and locations of polling stations — knowledge is power, and it’s a first step toward participation.

9. Promote and expand advance voting.

Only 3,500 people voted in advance in 2025 compared to roughly 10,000 in 2021. Clearly, advance polls weren’t used enough. Expanding the number of advance polling locations, keeping them open longer, and promoting them more effectively could reduce election-day congestion and give voters more flexibility.
10. Keep independent reviews — but make them transparent.

Post-election reviews already happen, but publishing detailed timelines, counts, and explanations would give residents confidence that their vote truly matters. Clear, open reviews show accountability and help everyone understand what went wrong and what will improve in the future.

11. Address voter turnout.

Turnout in 2025 was disappointing, even among people who care deeply about the city. One major factor was the lack of local media coverage. Out of roughly 11 candidate forums, only two or maybe three received any reporting, and coverage of an Indigenous-focused forum felt like a “we have to cover this” box-check rather than serious journalism. Many residents only learned about the election through social media or community groups. While Rogers TV covered the campaigns far more than the Red Deer Advocate, it still wasn’t enough.

For example, one forum was reported as “An estimated 250 concerned citizens attended a municipal election forum in Red Deer Friday night,” but the actual attendance was closer to 400, showing strong engagement that largely went unreported. Imagine how many more people might have participated if reliable coverage existed for all candidates and forums.

Red Deerians care about their city. The problems in 2025 weren’t about people not showing up — they were about a process that struggled to keep pace. Thoughtful planning, better communication, and a focus on accessibility can make 2029 a smoother, more inclusive, and more trustworthy election for everyone.

Your new Mayor:

Cindy Jeffries: Jefferies, previously a councillor long ago, re‑elected in 2021.

In July 2023, she was found to have breached the Code of Conduct by accepting corporate donations during her 2021 campaign — contravening the provincial rules (no corporate donations).

Though the provincial body had already investigated and the matter adjudicated, the city council accepted the breach.

Summary: Jefferies is not extremely new, but her breach is a recent documented case of rule‑breaking.
-Accepting Corporate donations during ele

Second Code of Conduct investigation this year against Red Deer city councillor finds breach
Jul 24, 2023 | 7:19 PM

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Kraymer Barnstable: Barnstable was elected in October 2021.

In May 2023, an independent investigation found that he breached the Council’s Code of Conduct on two of six allegations.

The breaches included publicly discussing confidential information and posting misinformation (related to an event for children) on social media.

As a result, the council required him to complete training in confidentiality and in diversity & inclusion by a specified deadline.

The investigation noted further context: Barnstable posed for a photo with a controversial figure, and the complainant alleged that contributed to undermining the city’s inclusive image.

Summary: While not brand‑new (he’s been a councillor since 2021), Barnstable is still relatively new compared with longer‑tenured councillors, and his conduct issues are recent enough to be noteworthy.

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Dianne Wyntjes, a Red Deer city councillor, has been involved in several notable controversies and decisions that have sparked debate.

1. Opposition to Overdose Prevention Site Closure

In February 2024, Wyntjes voted against the closure of Red Deer's only overdose prevention site, which was scheduled to shut down by spring 2025. She expressed concerns that the closure would leave a gap in services for individuals at various stages of addiction recovery. Her stance was in contrast to the majority of the council, who voted to close the site, aligning with Alberta's shift towards a recovery-focused model over harm-reduction strategies.

2. Support for Conversion Therapy Ban

In March 2020, Wyntjes introduced a motion urging Red Deer city council to support a federal ban on conversion therapy. While the motion aimed to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, the council's vote resulted in mixed resolutions, with some councillors voting against acknowledging the negative impacts of conversion therapy. This outcome led to disappointment among LGBTQ+ advocates, who felt the council's actions did not align with inclusivity principles.

​3. Criticism from Conservative Groups

Wyntjes has faced criticism from conservative groups for her votes on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In a 2023 municipal election campaign, a pro-life organization targeted her and other councillors, labeling them as part of the "woke five" for voting against defunding DEI programs. The group accused them of promoting what they termed "anti-Christian LGBT ideology," reflecting the polarized views on her policy positions.

These instances highlight the contentious nature of some of Wyntjes' decisions, which have elicited strong reactions from various community sectors.

I endorsed Calvin for three reasons: his ‘get-up-and-go’ attitude, his podcasts, which attempted to inform Red Deerians (even if many didn’t listen), and his willingness to dig deep and research his topics.

This was particularly evident when he challenged Laurence Lee’s false statement (Lee tried to claim that Calvin was spreading "misinformation" - I hope that cost Lee the election tbh) at the candidates’ forum.

Calvin Goulet-Jones - votes received

2025 - 5,050
2017 - 3,260
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Good job Calvin!

Now, we could go into Haley Wile's breach during her campaign for Provincial years ago that led to her getting a slap on the wrist and resigning as a candidate, but she's not the new Mayor.

Also, though vanished now, let's talk about which incumbent candidate had a vehicle with campaign signs on it outside of a polling station on Monday, October 20th...
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I think if you willingly commit elections financing fraud you probably shouldn't be allowed to run again for many years, if at all but hey, I only care about my personal integrity and accountability when it comes to serving the People, others don't.

OK, let's talk about my portion of this inaccurate document that was floating around reddit. Seriously? This is the ONLY thing you could even mention about me and it was completely wrong?
Let's break this down, how I voted:

Federal -

Last vote - Conservative (because well, Liberals)
Previous - Independent
Previous - PPC
Previous - Independent
hardly a "Conservative"

Provincial -

Last vote - Solidarity Movement of Alberta (not UCP sorry)
Previous - I was in Ontario, voted Progressive Conservative (yeah, Ford, big mistake)
Previous - Wildrose (before Brian Jean f&cked them after the Fort Mac fires by colluding with Cons)
Previous - Independent (Ontario)

again, hardly a UCP supporter. I often, very often, refer to Danielle Smith as the "50/50 leader", half the time she does good then a week later she doesn't something stupid.
"angry white dude",

Aside from that racist remark—which is just an American way of dividing people, really pathetically sad—I only get upset when people keep doing things that are plainly unwise. If someone repeats the same mistakes over and over, despite being shown better approaches, then yes, I get frustrated. But overall, I wouldn’t say I’m 'angry.' I’m opinionated and a pragmatist, as I was just described, and my reaction is more about being frustrated with the lack of common sense in today’s world.
"covid grievances",

- like what? I haven’t really talked about COVID in over two years. I usually decline discussing what I too have called the 'scamdemic.' For me, COVID is just another flu—that’s all I say about it. I might share other information occasionally, but I don’t get into the details about vaccines or reports of people getting sick. Once 2021 ended, I simply moved on and haven’t looked back. What do you even base this label on, 4 year old data?

How did covid affect me?

Well, let’s see… due to delays in surgeries (and other factors), I lost vision in my left eye and nearly in my right as well. My trust in the medical system is very low. During COVID, when I was actually able to work and not recovering from—was it seven or nine surgeries?—I was basically told at work, 'comply or starve (complete it or you would "go on unpaid leave indefinitely"),' over a completely pointless daily form. My employer wasn’t even allowed to look at it, and I was expected to fill it out and discard it every single day. Again it was the lack of common sense that frustrated me more.

Speaking of covid, I've got probably 250+ black masks (not medical but approved by a major employer) in a box, if any Red Deer charity wants them they can have them. I could really use the closet space the box takes up. DM me.
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So next time, just ask me questions instead of making such false assumptions about me. Thanks, Kevin.