Kim McKylor makes it clear she doesn't wear rose-coloured glasses, but she does prefer viewing issues from the perspective of the glass being half full as opposed to half empty.

McKylor is challenging incumbent division 2 councillor Jerry Arshinoff in the upcoming Rocky View County election and is troubled by the negativity that has been plaquing the council for the last seven years and especially the last four. She's positive there's a better way to work out solutions. 

"If we have a positive outcome in mind then we work collaboratively in a respectful way and we find solutions that work," she explains."This has been my experience in business, this has been my experience managing people, this has been my generally life experience. I'm a little more glass half full than glass half empty."

By constantly being divided over issues, she believes the credibility of the county is underminded.

"I think there's a better way to approach it and some of the issues and concerns that are raised are probably legitimate or they are certainly things that need to be addressed, but if we do it in such a negative fashion I just think we're harming ourselves, we're just not looking for those creative solutions. When we say 'no' to everything we lose ever possibility in front of us."

She compares it to the dynamics of a ball team where you win or lose as a unit.

"When we come off the field, or come off council, and we bad mouth our peers, we accuse them of being in developers' pockets, we write letters to the press and call them out, the whole system gets underminded."

"Council and administration are going to do some great things and they're going to make some mistakes along the way, but they do those things together."

It's this approach she wants to bring to the table to deal with three key issues in her campaign: seniors housing, growth management and recreation.

With the population aging, she wants to see the seniors housing complex included in the Bingham Crossings area structure plan become a reality, followed by one approved for the Harmony development.

"They're approved, let's get them going," says says.

She says she's had two elderly neighbours pass recently and their passing has not only been emotiuonally difficult for their surviving wives and families, it brings to focus the shortfallings in seniors housing in the Springbank area.

Gord Smith, she explains as one example, passed at age 90 and was able to live his entire life in one house.

"That's cool that he was able to live his entire life in the home that he grew up in. But his wife, not so fortunate."

There were no options available for her to stay in what was her home for likely more than 60 years, so she had to leave.

"It hurts my heart that her family had to pick her up and move. She's doing fine, but there was no choice."

She sees great opportunity in managing growth in division 2 with the new area structure plan now being undertaken. 

She points to the developments that already exist in the corridor and sees an opportunity to pull it all together,

"This is a natural trap for creative intelligent development."

"There's very little residential in that area, very little impact, but huge opportunity to add amenities and services and increase our tax base so residents aren't saddled with paying for every strip of road. They'd be sharing that cost with a tax base that is a little more diverified than it is today."

She wants to see more recreational opportunities and believes the existing Park For All Seasons is a good start but needs to be expanded upon. 

She envisions baseball fields, walking paths, basketball court and more soccer fields and believes iit is the perfect anchor for further recreational amenities through both sides of Hwy. 1.

McKylor wants the government to take the time to make sure the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir is the best location for flood mitigation in the area and has been staying informed on what is a burn issue.

"I don't know if it's bad or good, I'm not an expert on flood mitigation, but I hope the Alberta government takes the time that it needs to explore ever reasonable option thoroughly and makes the best decision they can based on that, so not to rush into anything. At the end of the day, if turns out  the Springbank off-stream reservoir is the solution that gets moved forward then I'll work my hardest to ensure our landowners are treated with respect and fairly."

She equates her past experience as an MLA assistant, followed by a long career with Talisman Energy, to the job of a councillor and believes it's all about taking care of your customers or, in this case, your constituents.

"If you do that well, everything else kind of bolts in. If we focus on the wrong things, other things can fall off the table but we take care of our clients or constituents, most things work out."

"You have to try and take care of your constituents, and it's not because they voted for you. It's because your job is represent everyone in your constituent, that's your role and that's your obligation, so that's important."

"I want to approach everything with an open mind and clear lense and having a respectful dialogue with peers and administration and constituents. I'm not a big fan of negative rhetoric.. I don't have all the answers. I don't have a silver bullet. I think we have challenges. I don't think we can resolve those challenges if we're spending all of our time fighting internally."