When another candidate, whom Rolly Ashdown thought would make a good Rocky View County (RVC) Councillor, expressed an interest in running in the last municipal election, Ashdown decided it was time to step away from politics.
“Al Schule said he was willing to do it I thought there was no need for me to,” said Ashdown.
He served on the RVC municipal council for seven years, first being elected in 2011 on his second attempt.
Ashdown was selected by council to be the Reeve for the first three years and then as the Division 4 Councillor for the rest of his time on council.
His decision to run came while he was working to develop a parcel of land in the county.
“I was developing land, I didn’t think the systems were as adequate as they could be and so instead of complaining about something you should always try to improve it,” he said of his decision to seek public office.
Since he was first elected he feels that council has made several changes to benefit residents of RVC.
“I think in the seven years of council ended up making some pretty good changes,” he said.
Since returning to the private sector, Ashdown said he has a lot more time on his hands despite working to open three new restaurants in Langdon.
“I keep myself busy, the main part is it’s a lot less time to work a normal job than being on call 24 hours a day with council,” he said.
As an entrepreneur, he has a lot less people relying on him to help solve their problems.
“You don’t have as many people that are…asking you to try and correct things for them,” said Ashdown.
Being a representative of the people is both the best and worst part of being an elected official.
Ashdown said that working to make positive changes was for him the best part of being on RVC council.
The worst part was becoming the target of people’s ire when they are unhappy with how things are being done in the county.
“The bad part of politics is where…you get a lot of those who get angry.
“They’re angry at politicians and hard-working elected people that are really trying to do a good job,” he said.
