Sabine Dietz is hoping she has a chance to bring her experience and interest in local governance to the table as she vies for a seat on Sackville town council in the upcoming municipal byelection.
“I think I can contribute quite a bit with my knowledge and my background,” said Dietz.
Dietz, an environmental consultant, has extensive experience working with communities of different sizes all across the province and has a solid understanding of many of the issues municipalities face.
“I know where some of the challenges are that need to be met.”
With a PhD in biology and a master’s in environmental studies, Dietz has been working as a program and project facilitator and coordinator since the mid-1980s. She said this has involved bringing various stakeholders together and serving in a “capacity-building” role, ensuring engagement and communication were key throughout the process.
Dietz moved to the Sackville area about 13 years ago after taking a position as executive director of Cape Jourimain Nature Centre, where she worked until 2010. Since that time, she has worked as climate change adaptation specialist for the provincial government, the regional services commission and numerous municipalities on various projects.
In 2013, she co-founded the Aster Group, a worker co-operative that delivers environmental consulting services.
Dietz said her involvement behind the scenes as a volunteer on various committees and organizations in the region have also provided her with a good knowledge of the dynamics of local government. She has previously served on the boards of EOS Eco Energy, Beausejour Renewable Energy, Tantramar Tourism Association, Co-op Enterprise Council of New Brunswick, and Nature NB.
Dietz said she is excited about the potential of working with the current town council.
“I like that balance that is on council right now and I’d like to maintain that,” she said.
Dietz, who ran unsuccessfully for the mayoralty in the 2012 election, said her decision to put her name forward last time around was motivated by her disappointment over a lack of action by the council at the time on a number of issues. This time, however, that’s not the case at all.
“Things are happening now. There are a lot of good things going on and I’d like to be a part of that, to contribute and help where I can.”
She loves Sackville and she hopes to be able to play a role in creating even more opportunities for the creative and innovative thinkers that are making Sackville such a special place.
Dietz is one of five candidates running for the seat vacated recently by Megan Mitton, who stepped down after being elected the riding’s new MLA. The byelection would mean a new councillor would only serve 16 months before another municipal election rather than the usual four-year term.
Dietz, who managed Mitton’s successful provincial campaign, said she is concerned about the timing of the byelection and hopes winter conditions won’t discourage residents from getting out to vote.
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