Development density divides East St. Paul mayoral candidates

There are idyllic places like this old gravel pit in the RM of East St. Paul, but population growth is exerting pressure for more development. Most of this Winnipeg bedroom community has bigger homes on larger lots. Carla Devlin, who's been mayor for the past four years, voted in favor of denser development in areas like the meadows east of Highway 59, even as she faced pushback from residents who don't want change. We definitely want to keep community the way it is. We hear that at the door often. But we do have seniors that want to stay in community, and we often see them move to the city of Winnipeg. Devlin says East St. Paul needs more multi-family housing. Two candidates trying to unseat her say that's fine, up to a point. I am against high-rises, okay? Duplexes or things like that totally make sense. We have that in our community right now. High-rises, it doesn't fly. Horace Terechka worked for breweries in Winnipeg for decades. He's been an East St. Paul councillor for the past 12 years. Both he and Devlin say East St. Paul needs their experience in the mayor's chair because few existing councillors are running for re-election. Coming from outside is Mike Watson, a former hotel controller who owns a meat shop in Winnipeg. He too opposes higher density development in East St. Paul. People build and move to East St. Paul to be in that environment, semi-rural lifestyle with walkways, pathways, large properties. and unfortunately this council has decided that they're trying to tell the residents of East St. Paul what they want. Watson and Horechko have concerns about Devlin's other roles. She's a home builder and serves as president of sand mining company, Seosilica. I think it puts her in a lot of conflicts. There's a lot on that plate. Carla Devlin says she hopes voters judge her on her record. I've heard it all and from every angle and so you just develop a thick skin. Election day in this R.M. is October 28th, just as it is in most other Manitoba municipalities. Bart Lekevis, CBC News, in the RM of East St. Paul.