EDMONTON — According to unofficial numbers, former police officer Moe Banga won the Ward 12 byelection Monday night to replace Amarjeet Sohi on Edmonton City Council. Of the 13,279 vote cast, Banga won with an unofficial count of 2,359 votes, representing 18 per cent of the popular vote. He will be sworn-in as a city councillor on Friday.
READ MORE: Moe Banga elected as Edmonton city councillor for Ward 12
Here are a dozen facts to know about Moe Banga.
1. He has lived in Ward 12 for over three decades, residing in Bisset, Jackson Heights and now Summerside, according to his campaign website.
2. Banga has been married to his wife Pinder for over 38 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.
3. He immigrated to Canada in 1978.
4. Banga is well-educated. He obtained a Master of Science degree in Applied Physics from Punjabi University in Patiala, India, before coming to Canada. Once in Edmonton, he took night courses at NAIT to obtain a diploma in an oil and gas related field. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics.
5. Banga worked for an engineering firm for a short time before realizing the office life wasn’t for him. He then applied to the EPS academy in 1992.
6. Banga worked for the Edmonton Police Service for 24 years, mainly in the southeast division. He started as a police constable, before advancing to become a sergeant and most recently, a detective. Banga also taught the D.A.R.E (Drug Assistance Resistance Education) Program for 15 years.
7. Banga is involved with amateur sports. He coached youth soccer and played men’s soccer for over 30 years.
8. When he was the president of a not-for-profit organization, he helped with the planning and of the $14.2 million Ivor Dent Sports Park, in partnership with the City of Edmonton. Three other non-profits also contributed.
9. Why did he run for city council? Banga said he has lived in the ward for 38 years, and wanted to make sure it’s represented fully.
10. His first priority as a city councillor: addressing community safety issues.
11. Banga believes there should be a rigorous analysis of Valley Line LRT plans to optimize flow of vehicles and trains. The line will run through Ward 12, and on Twitter Banga voiced his concerns. He said during campaign door knocking, the issue of adequate parking and drop-off areas around LRT was also raised.
12. Where does Banga stand on the Uber/vehicle for hire issue? In a letter to the City of Edmonton dated January 15, Banga stated many concerns with the Vehicle For Hire Bylaw that was eventually passed on January 26. Banga’s letter took issue with people with only personal insurance coverage using their vehicles to give rides.
He said there is ‘no provision to track and monitor vehicles and operators by the police, in the event a crime has occurred.” He also said allowing ride sharing companies like Uber into Edmonton will affect the 1500 Ward 12 residents who are taxi drivers.
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