‘Boots on the ground,’ ‘man of the people’ mayoral candidate ready for his shot on Nov. 9

A man of the people.

That’s how mayoral candidate Mark Zielke categorized himself Tuesday, wearing a bright suit in Saskatoon’s downtown.

“The day after I came to Saskatoon, I knew this was a city for me. I fell in love,” Zielke explained, outlining his history within the city.

Originally from White Rock, British Columbia, Zielke has lived in the Bridge City for nearly 16 years. He said he isn’t a career-politician but claims that his leadership skills can’t be matched by the other five candidates running for mayor in 2020.

“I spend the majority of my days, boots on the ground… it doesn’t matter if they’re on the top of the socio-economic scale, or the bottom,” he explained.

“I despise folks who say one thing, then do the opposite. That’s what I find in career-politicians.”

Zielke is a self-proclaimed businessman, who started in the entertainment industry. He said the entertainment background opened other doors of opportunity, including running and operating small businesses.

Outside of the political race, Zielke runs an online auto repair shop and a social media management company, he said Tuesday.

When it comes to the mayoral race, his ‘man of the people’ outlook, he says, comes from action, rather than just words.

“When I hear people say, ‘oh, we wish good thoughts and prayers for you,’ that doesn’t cut it. There needs to be significant action. I have always subscribed to the fact (that) if I’m not willing to do something, I can’t ask somebody else to do it,” he said.

“For me, it’s always about, simply serving people in a more efficient manner. But also in a more compassionate and empathetic manner.”

When he’s not on the ground, chatting with the people of Saskatoon, or at work, Zielke keeps busy in the kitchen.

“When there’s the odd time that I just need to re-calibrate and let the world kind of, slow down a little bit, what I enjoy doing is cooking very good steak,” he said, with a smile.

If elected, Zielke also said he knows where he would start to change the way Saskatoon City Council is run.

“The study to study another study, on top of the third study, is done,” he said.

“It comes down to simple leadership. I don’t believe that Charlie Clark exhibits leadership. I believe that he does not desire to exhibit leadership because he’s had four years to offer leadership, and yet, has not.”

During Tuesday’s interview, Zielke said that Clark’s leadership shows unapproachability, inaccessibility and exclusion.

“I don’t care who you are, what your skin colour is, who you pray to, what you bring in for cash— everyone bar-none deserves hope, dignity and respect. And that comes, and starts, from the person in the mayoralty,” he explained.

The mega-projects that are in the works with the city, which includes the new central library, would be shelved under this mayoral candidate. He said anything “adding a tax burden” is not good stewardship, and is ignorant in the COVID-19 world that we’re currently in.

On the flip side of COVID-19, Zielke said it has given us an opportunity.

“COVID has given us a gift… the fact that we have folks who are not able to access services. We have folks who are entering our justice system that shouldn’t be in there. In fact, we need to have significantly different approaches to how we deal,” he explained. “I believe everyone in our society provides value and should be respected, should be encouraged.”

When it comes to policies, Zielke said that “nobody can put me into a box.”

“I categorize myself as a man of the people. That’s how I’ve always lived out,” he said. “That’s what my life consists of, it consists of caring for others… it also gives me, not only the credibility, but it gives me the confidence to encourage others.

“My policies are all rooted in the hope, dignity and respect that Saskatchewan and Saskatoon residents deserve… helping those who are dealing with mental health, (addictions and poverty), that’s where it starts from.”