Advanced voting has already started as the by-election process continues in Moose Jaw as we select a new councilor. Former City Councillor Heather Eby would like to occupy that seat and is the first to take part in our Meet the Candidates feature.

We've asked each candidate three questions and will present their responses this week. First is about the Downtown Facility and Fieldhouse investigation that resulted in sanctions against three current councilors. We asked what needs to happen in order to get the two facilities out from under the negative cloud.

"There's no question in my mind that the DFFH needs new leadership at the helm sooner than later, and we need a professional executive at the helm of Mosaic Place. So whether that's a board or a management company, either way, I think we need a new GM with strategic direction and vision."

The second question we will be asking each candidate is 'What is the biggest challenge the city faces and how do you plan to address it, if elected?'

"The emerging issue for me has been community safety, and as I listen to the radio and read things online I see a real trend of crime in Moose Jaw," says Eby, "So when I'm back on Council I will absolutely support the police commission and the chief of police in a lobby to increase our provincially funded number of officers."

And finally, infrastructure and how to pay for it. 'Do you raise taxes or borrow money?'

"Infrastructure funding is absolutely the biggest balancing act I think there is when it comes to municipal budgets. But I think we need to realize that we are never going to be done updating our infrastructure, so whatever funding models we come up with, they have to be sustainable because we are going to be working on these projects for years and years and years."

Eby is a former City Councillor and will be running against Doug Blanc, Mike Bachiu and Steven White in the race for one open seat on Council on October 17th.