Rocky Mountain House’s acting mayor is making his bid for the town’s top elected office official.

Len Phillips, who has served on town council for two terms and has spent the last eight months as acting mayor, is running for mayor in the upcoming October municipal election. A well-known face in the community, Phillips says he’s leaning on his decades of business and leadership experience to offer what he describes as “strong, stable leadership” for Rocky Mountain House.

He provided the following answers to a candidate questionnaire:

Please provide a little background on yourself, including how long you’ve lived in the Rocky area.

I’ve been in Rocky Mountain house for over 30 years now, this is my home. That’s the longest I’ve lived in any community ever. I used to manage the Zeller store in town here once upon a time. I’ve also been former president of the Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Kinsmen Club, former president of the over 30 hockey team. So I’ve got some deep roots in the community. I do have three kids and eight grandkids, and my beautiful wife, Jennifer— she’s always my rock. I’ve got some deep ties to the community. I love the town of Rocky Mountain House. 

Why do you want to run for mayor of Rocky Mountain House?

This is my second term in council— most of that has been as a councillor. But for the last eight months, I have been the acting mayor of Rocky Mountain House, so basically, for a quarter of this last term—by the time October comes around—I will have been doing the duties of the Mayor of Rocky Mountain House. So I feel that I’m ready for the position. The two terms, along with my extensive business background in the past and work with nonprofits and work with many different types of businesses in the community has set me up for becoming the mayor. I think now is the time, Rocky Mountain House needs some good, strong, stable leadership and I think I’m the person that can do that.

What personal or professional experience do you feel would make you a good mayor?

I have started out my career managing Zellers stores, one of the postings was in Rocky Mountain House, but also throughout Western Canada. I have also had my own small business, so I’ve I know what it’s like to run a small business with limited employees. I know what it’s like to run a large business with many employees. I also know what it’s like to be self-employed. As a realtor as well, I have been self-employed, and in all of those positions, I’ve always managed to rise to the top and always have been successful at what I’ve done. As well the former president of the Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Kinsman Club, president and former president of the over-30 hockey club, I’ve excelled in leadership roles. [Leadership] is I seem to do best, and I feel that, as the mayor of Rocky Mountain House, I can continue to bring all of that experience to the table. I also have experience in self development courses where I’ve helped facilitate that. All of that experience will serve me well as the mayor of Rocky Mountain House. 

If elected, what would be a few top priorities?

One of the things we’ve been working on, and I still believe we need more work on, is creating more of a tax base. We can’t keep taking taxes from the existing taxpayers of Rocky Mountain House; we need growth. With growth comes new tax base, and with new tax base comes new opportunities. Growing the tax base is one of my priorities through business, residential, commercial, industrial. Once we have a larger tax base, then we can do things. It’s better for the community, and we’re not pulling from the same existing people all the time. Recreational facilities is also another one of my priorities. We have some old recreational facilities in town that are aging out and it’s time that we look at recreation as a holistic topic and look forward to what new facilities we could have. It doesn’t take much to go to Blackfalds, Red Deer, Sylvan Lake and see some of the fine facilities they have. There’s no reason the town of Rocky Mountain shouldn’t have facilities like that available to the public. I want the residents of Rocky Mountain House to be proud to be in this community, and I want that to echo right through from the youngest in our community all the way up to our seniors. I know I am very proud to be here. 

Where can people learn more about you and your priorities?

The best way to learn about me is to connect directly. I also want to hear what the residents have to say, because that’s important, as has anyone that’s been in this position before knows, we need to listen to the community, and we need to listen intently. I prefer one-on-one conversations, whether it’s sitting down, having coffee, having lunch, just a casual conversation. That’s my mode of how I like to be engaged with people. I will also have a presence on social media as well, if some people want to engage from a social media point of view. I always have and will always firmly believe that one-on-one conversations is always the best way to get to know people and get to know what they’re all about. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I love this community. I’ve been part of this community, I chose to come back here when I had the opportunity to open my own business. I love Rocky Mountain House. I love the people in it. I want to see growth. I want to see things happen.

Visit our Municipal Election page for more information on the upcoming municipal election Oct. 20, 2025.