Almost a month into the Federal Election campaign and residents in Crowfoot Battle River now see some candidates putting their names into the hat.
    Election season began August 2, and right away, incumbent MP Kevin Sorenson was on the campaign trail. Other parties have begun to follow suit.
    After four elections Ellen Parker of the NDP has decided she will not be running, and is now supporting Katherine Swampy as the party’s candidate.
    “I’m pleased to announce that the Battle River-Crowfoot NDP executive has confirmed Katherine Swampy as the NDP candidate for this district,’ said Parker. “I have wholeheartedly agreed to be Katherine’s campaign manager, because I believe in rotating leadership.  I’m happy to pass on the ‘candidate torch’ to Katherine, who represents stellar leadership in the next generation that will lead this country for the best interest of the public good.”
    Swampy, 29, is a resident of Maskwacis. She has diplomas in First Nations Management, University Studies, and Fashion Design as well as a BA in Economics with a Political Studies minor from the U of A, Augustana Faculty.  Katherine is also a wife and mother of five and has a full time federal civil servant job.
    She’s active in her community and area volunteering as a dance instructor, adult literacy coach, and involved in many social movements. She ran as a candidate for the Alberta NDP in the most recent provincial election.
    The launch of the Battle River-Crowfoot’s NDP campaign will take place in Camrose, AB on Friday, September 11, 7pm at the Camrose Arts Society 4809 52 St.
    The Liberal Constituency Association has selected Andy Kowalski, and while he has not been officially named as candidate, he feels it is a very important election coming up.
    “I was in politics for a long tome, but I was always the guy in the background, I just got the bug this time,” Kowalski told The Mail, adding he knows he is a long shot. “I said ‘what the heck, you never know what happens.’”
    Kowalski hails from Ryley and is the owner Ryley’s Sausage. As a small business owner, he feels the Liberal policies are most supportive of small business. He says the most important issue this election is the economy.
    “There are these questions of a recession. We can see it in our province, with how many people are being laid off. What concerns me is there is no plan B in the works,” he said.   
    He also feels that Alberta has been neglected.
    “Oil prices are so low, the companies aren’t making the money they were before, but we need some infrastructure,” he said, adding there is billions of dollars in roadwork alone that needs to be done. “People are being killed on these small highways with big equipment coming through. This would be an excellent infrastructure project for Alberta.”
    The Green Party has a candidate in Gary Kelly. The Tofield resident is an active volunteer and is currently working on trying to bring a recycling program to his community. He served as an auxiliary RCMP constable from 2004 to 2009.
    One of his major concerns is democratic reform. He believes a more concise way of electing representatives needs to be adopted.
    While it has taken about a month to have candidates to declare, election day October 19 is still seven more weeks away.