Molly Douglass, running for PC nomination in Strathmore-Brooks.
Molly Douglass, Newell County Reeve, has declared she will be seeking the Progressive Conservative nomination in the Strathmore -Brooks riding.
Last week The Mail reported that former Canadian Taxpayer Federation director Derek Fildebrandt would be seeking the nomination from the Wildrose Party. The Mail has learned that Douglass, has decided to run for the PC nomination.
“I have some support from family and friends and people I work with,” she tells The Mail, adding her experience in politics will help her.
“I am still the Reeve of the County of Newell and I am in my 11th year. I enjoyed that world and I think these are important jobs. I understand municipal roles and provincial roles being involved, so I thought I can contribute.”
While MLA for Strathmore -Brooks Jason Hale has not yet declared whether he will be letting his name stand, Douglass is the first to challenge the nomination.
The riding of Strathmore-Brooks has seen a shift in party politics over the last couple of months. President for the Strathmore-Brooks PC Constituency Association, Karen Bartsch, says they have not yet opened nominations, but they are looking at the process being underway mid February. She says the high profile entry of Fildebrandt doesn’t affect their process.
“I personally think it would be difficult for him to truly represent the constituents of our riding when he knows nothing about our concerns or issues - which is an MLA’s job first and foremost,” she said.
Douglass said she is taking the process one step at a time.
“I can only control what I decide to do, I’m taking it a step at a time because it is a process,” she said. “The nomination is first and then whoever is running for the other parties. It sounds like someone is already announced for the Wildrose Party. Things change rapidly it appears.”
Douglass says voters will have their work cut out for them.
“It has been an emotional time for a lot of people because of the floor crossing and how that will turn into come election time no one knows for sure,” she said.
