Morris reeve seeks AMM top office

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/10/2018 (2004 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reeve Ralph Groening of the RM of Morris will attempt next month to succeed former Steinbach mayor Chris Goertzen as the next president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM).

Groening, who was acclaimed to a third term as reeve, was nominated for AMM’s top office by his municipal council colleagues on Oct. 9.

His counterpart in the neighbouring Town of Morris, Gavin van der Linde, also intended to seek the presidency, but was not re-elected, finishing second to Scott Crick in the community’s three-way mayor race.

Groening is currently a vice-president on the AMM’s three-person executive.

“I think the vice-president’s job has traditionally been a position in waiting. It’s a time of training,” he said.

His work on the executive saw him work closely with Goertzen, who will step down at next month’s annual convention after more than three years helming AMM.

Last week, Groening called Goertzen “a pleasure to work with” and praised his ability to guide and focus conversations with other elected officials.

A grain farmer who also lived in Winnipeg for a decade, Groening said he’s well positioned to advocate for the needs of both rural and capital region municipalities.

If elected to a two-year term, Groening said members can expect a coordinated push for better cell phone and internet infrastructure, and messaging aimed at ensuring municipalities receive the federal and provincial dollars “they need in order to take care of their responsibilities.”

The 20th annual AMM convention takes place Nov. 26-28 at Winnipeg’s RBC Convention Centre.

The AMM represents all 137 incorporated municipalities in Manitoba.=