Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader

As reported earlier, Mike Loroff is one of a couple of candidates (so far) who have declared their intention to run for town council. The byelection to fill the vacant seat is on Monday, April 3, so just under four weeks from now.

Loroff admits he doesn’t have any experience in politics or government. But he thinks his engineering/construction background would be helpful to council. He’d also be the youngest person on council, if elected, and he thinks that would also be good, “to bring a young person’s perspective to help grow Slave Lake.”

In announcing his candidacy on social media (on Feb. 8), Loroff said this:

“As a nearly lifelong resident, I have seen Slave Lake through its highs and lows and feel that with the current economic climate our community is blossoming again. With a background in engineering and construction, I feel my experience would be an asset to the current council in navigating the complexities of operational service levels, road construction and maintenance. I believe in keeping service levels high while investing in our future and growing our tax base. I am committed to making Slave Lake a destination to work and raise a family.”

Keeping services levels high, while not raising taxes would be his goal if elected, Loroff says.

“I know it will be a challenge, but I think it will be a good challenge.”

Loroff has lived in Slave Lake for most of the past 26 years. He was six years old in 1997 when the Loroff family moved to Slave Lake from Fairview. His dad Rob worked for Everall Construction at the time. The family relocated to Grande Prairie for two or three years, but came back to Slave Lake. He graduated from Roland Michener School coincided with Rob establishing Pave-It Construction.

“I was involved,” Loroff says. “I was part of the crew for four or five years. Then I went to Lethbridge (College) and got my civil engineering tech. (diploma).”

Nowadays, Loroff is a managing director of the company of Pave-It. Being a family business, though, he says, “you do what you need to do,” which sometimes includes operating equipment, or whatever.

“I do all the estimating,” he adds.

Loroff is 32 years old and married to Alyssa. They have two children – Cooper and Austyn.