STOUGHTON - Voting will take place Sept. 28 for a vacant councillor on Stoughton town council.
Former councillor Danielle Hoffman stepped down when she successfully applied for the position of town administrator. Two candidates are vying for that vacated position, Ira Elizabeth Noyes and Stephanie Zoer.
Eligible residents can vote between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on election day, or from 4-8 p.m. during the advanced polling date of Sept. 26.
Ira Elizabeth Noyes
Noyes was raised in Stoughton by parents who were raised in Stoughton by grandparents who were raised in Stoughton. Her Stoughton history goes back a long way. Her grandfather served on Stoughton council for 20 years.
This is Noyes’ first endeavor to enter public office. She feels that her career in public relations, economics and business development, combined with her family background, makes her a good fit for the councillor position.
Noyes’ post-secondary schooling took her to Toronto, studying interior design, graphic design, marketing and business strategy. Her subsequent career led her to New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
“I’d like to bring the experience and knowledge I’ve learned working in both economic and community development home…and support the continued growth of Stoughton and our surrounding communities.”
Among other things, she is hoping her experience in working with grant-giving organizations will be an asset if she is elected.
While living in Miami, COVID-19 hit. Her mother invited her to return home to live with her on the family ranch. She was thrilled with what she saw upon her arrival.
“Growing up in Stoughton taught me the importance of community service”, Noyes said. “When I recently returned after working abroad, it was amazing to see how the town has grown, with the opening of many new local businesses on Main Street.
“I’ve lived in many cities across North America, both large and small, but there is nothing like the feeling of coming home to our incredible prairie land and this community.”
While living abroad, she always viewed Stoughton as home and returned most summers. Since coming home, she has put her education to good use, owning Blondies Car Wash and doing interior design work for businesses like Beauty By Jo. She also devotes herself to growing her Prairie Pantry business.
“My grandparents on both sides were involved in community service for decades and inspired much of my career. It would be my honour to follow in their footsteps and serve on council for the Town of Stoughton,” she said.
Zoer has lived in Stoughton for the past two years. She has been married to Frank Zoer for 43 years and is his partner in their family business, FSK Construction Services. She has two children. Her daughter is a Girl Guides leader and loves seniors and children alike. Zoer is thankful for her family’s support in her quest to become a town councillor.
She is a laid-back person who loves making people smile. That comes, in part, from a serious health issue when she was 44 that left her unable to walk for six weeks. She desires to make the most of each day and wants that to rub off on all those she meets.
Zoer is becoming involved in the community. She’s the secretary of the New Hope Horse Club, among other projects.
She entered the race for councillor despite having no previous political experience.
“It’s a whole new ballgame for me,” she said.
She had been considering various ways to become more involved in Stoughton life, listening to suggestions, such as joining local service clubs. She wanted to get involved in a deeper way, so she sees the potential of being a councillor as a means to that end.
She has goals she’d like to accomplish while on council. The beautification of Stoughton is one of them. There are many empty, unkempt homes in Stoughton and she’d like to see their owners keep them better maintained. She longs to see her town have a visible attractiveness.
She would like to see local small businesses promoted to a greater degree. She also wants to have an ear to the ground and bring the needs of the town’s residents to council.
“I want to be the voice of the people of the town. I want to go to council meetings for them. I want to say, ‘Here’s what people are saying … is there anything we can do about it?’”
Although she may be relatively new to Stoughton, she is very passionate about its future.
