While potential candidates and political parties continue to wait with bated breath for the next provincial elections, a few more in the area served by The Drumheller Mail are getting ready for the inevitable.
Drumheller -Stettler
This week the Drumheller-Stettler riding, the Progressive Conservative Constituency Association announced its nomination dates. The process will begin on February 28 and wrap up at noon on Saturday March 7. If an election is necessary, it will be on March 21. Bert McFadyen is chair of the nomination committee. He says the Constituency Association has renewed vigor.
"The election of the premier certainly changed our fortunes. It generated a good number of memberships," McFadyen said. "It has rejuvenated our association by bringing more people in and that is encouraging."
So far, Drumheller resident Ed Mah, former MLA Jack Hayden and Stettler County Councillor Greggory Jackson have expressed their intention to seek the nomination.
Rick Strankman is a lock for the Wildrose Party, having claimed the nomination in 2014.
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
Last week The Mail reported that Bruce Rowe, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills has decided to call it quits. Rowe was one of the former Wildrose representatives that crossed the floor to sit as a Progressive Conservative (PC).
The Wildrose Party in the area has wasted no time in lining up their next candidate. On February 5, Nathan Cooper claimed the Wildrose nomination. Cooper is a Carstairs Town Councillor and currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Wildrose Opposition.
“We stand for less government, more freedom, and fiscal responsibility. We recognize that strong families build strong communities, and strong communities support strong families. We seek to strengthen democracy by giving more power to voters. And we believe responsible economic management is a prerequisite of public service,” he said in a press release.
Candidates are lining up across the floor to run in the same constituency. Previously Town of Olds Councillor Wade Bearchell announced his intention to run for the PCs. Since then, it has been reported that Olds Town Councillor Debbie Bennett and Mountain View County Councillor Ron Richardson have joined the race.
Strathmore-Brooks
In Strathmore-Brooks, the Wildrose Party made it official. Derek Fildebrandt, former Canadian Taxpayer Federation director is the party’s selection leading into the next election.
“I’m truly honoured to be the Wildrose candidate in Strathmore-Brooks. Our community deserves real representation that will stand up for hard-working Albertans against Jim Prentice’s plan to raise taxes on families. I look forward to meeting with residents to discuss the issues that will shape our province,” he said.
For the PC Party, The Mail reported that Molly Douglass would be running. The Brooks Bulletin reported that current MLA Jason Hale has yet to declare whether he will be running again.
