With less than two weeks until Canadians go to the polls, the slate of candidates in area ridings have been set.
While the writ was dropped on August 2 and national campaigning has been fierce, on the home front however, it has been a little more muted.
Monday, September 28 was nomination day and on Wednesday, September 30, the official list of candidates that will appear on the ballot was issued.
In alphabetical order in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding, Gary Kelly of Tolfield is running for the Green Party. The father of three has a diploma in biological sciences from NAIT and a certificate in Conservation Enforcement from Lethbridge College. An avid volunteer in his community, he has been involved in a number of boards and was an Auxiliary RCMP Constable for five years.
Andy Kowalski is the Liberal candidate. He is the owner and operator of Ryley Sausage in Ryley, Alberta. He tells The Mail that for years he has been involved in politics, but in the background. He says the focus of the election is the economy and feels the Liberal’s policies are the most constructive.
Incumbent Kevin Sorenson has been busy campaigning. Originally elected in 2000 as an Alliance member, he won the next four elections under the Conservative banner with more than 80 per cent of the popular vote each time. He pinpoints the economy and leadership as the key election issues.
Rounding out the pack is Katherine Swampy. The 29 year old is running under the NDP banner. She made her way through Drumheller last Friday, and says she is receiving great support along the way. She just graduated from the University of Alberta through the Augustana Campus with a Bachelor of Arts.
The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Drumheller Sublocal of the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) have slated an election forum on Tuesday, October 13 at the BCF at 7 p.m.
Residents of Bow River have a wide variety of choices come October 19. The new riding, which includes Standard, Rosebud and Rockyford, to name a few, has seven candidates in the running.
William MacDonald Alexander is representing the Liberal Party. The Calgary resident is in his final year of study at the University of Calgary.
Rita Fromholt is running for the Green Party. She is a B.C. resident and is serving as the West Coast Campaign Coordinator of the Green Party.
Fahed Khalid is running for the Democratic Advancement Party. He is an independent consultant in the energy industry.
Andrew Kucy is an independent candidate. The Langdon resident is a professional engineer in the oil and gas sector.
Lynn McWilliam is running for the NDP. She is a Town of Bassano councillor and for over a decade worked on Parliament Hill for various MPs.
Martin Shields is in the running for the Conservative Party. He has served as the Mayor of the City of Brooks since 2007, and has been active with the conservative party in the area.
Frans VandeStroet is the candidate for the Christian Heritage Party. He has run in the Medicine Hat riding in 2008 and 2011. Born in the Netherlands, he immigrated to Canada in 1997.
Election Day is Monday, October 19.