Former MLA Drew Barnes has officially entered the race for mayor of Medicine Hat, launching his campaign amid one of the most tumultuous periods in the city’s political history.Barnes, who represented Cypress–Medicine Hat in the Alberta Legislature from 2012 to 2023, announced his candidacy ahead of the October 20 municipal election. He cited a need to restore transparency, trust, and effective leadership to a city hall he described as “paralyzed by division and secrecy.”“People in Medicine Hat are frustrated, and rightly so,” Barnes said in a statement. .“They’ve watched a mayor get stripped of her powers, a council implode, and a provincial report confirm what we’ve all seen — a complete breakdown in governance.”The announcement comes as city council continues to reel from years of infighting and scandal. The dysfunction reached a peak in 2023 after Mayor Linnsie Clark was publicly sanctioned by council for challenging City Manager Ann Mitchell during a meeting over layoffs that had reportedly taken place without proper council approval.Clark accused Mitchell of violating city bylaws and demanded answers about the restructuring. .Council later deemed Clark’s actions disrespectful and imposed sweeping sanctions, stripping her of most of her mayoral duties, slashing her salary by 50%, and restricting her communication with the city manager.The move triggered widespread public backlash. Residents accused council of overreach and of trying to silence a democratically elected mayor who was doing her job. “They railroaded her,” one commenter wrote on Reddit, while others called the internal report that justified the sanctions “completely unreadable” and “a joke.”Clark challenged the sanctions in court. In late 2024, a judge ruled the penalties were excessive and restored her authority and pay, though the court did require her to issue an apology..In the months that followed, a provincially ordered governance audit painted an even bleaker picture. The independent review described a toxic environment at city hall characterized by mistrust, poor communication, and a culture of fear. The report made nearly 70 recommendations and mandated both council and administration undergo respectful workplace training. The province has demanded a reform plan be delivered by October.“This isn’t about one person or one meeting — this is about years of dysfunction and zero accountability,” Barnes said. “The people of Medicine Hat deserve a fresh start.”Barnes’ campaign marks a significant development in the lead-up to October’s election, where not one sitting councillor has yet confirmed plans to run again.
