The upcoming federal election race in Central Alberta will see a mix of political veterans and rookies.
The Conservative Party of Canada enters the campaign led by four experienced legislators. In Red Deer, Earl Dreeshen will seek his second victory after replacing longtime MP Bob Mills, who retired before the 2008 election.
In Wetaskiwin riding, Blaine Calkins will seek a third win after first going to Ottawa after the 2006 election. In Wild Rose riding, Blake Richards is in his second campaign after replacing the colourful Myron Thompson in 2008.
The most experienced Conservative candidate is Kevin Sorenson, who was first elected in 2000 and is in his fifth campaign.
It is expected the party will continue its dominance in Central Alberta. In the last election, the party garnered at least 72 per cent of the popular vote in the four ridings, with Sorenson swept into office by 82 per cent of voters.
Richards was out door knocking in Cremona on Monday night and said he plans to campaign hard.
“I always look at it like you’re out there to win every vote that you possibly can,” he said. “I think I’ve worked hard over the past two and a half years to show that trust the voters put in me was not misplaced.”
Richards said his approach at the door is firstly to listen to what people’s concerns are. The message he is taking to the public is his party’s determination to continue its program to put Canada back in the black and recover from the recession by encouraging job growth and keeping taxes low.
Among the challengers, the NDP can also count on a lot of experience. All four candidates from the last election are back. The Liberals and Green Party of Canada will have new candidates in all four Central Alberta ridings.
A new party will also make an appearance in the upcoming election. The Christian Heritage Party of Canada, which was formed in 1987 and believes government should be run on Biblical principles, will field candidates in Wild Rose and Crowfoot ridings for the first time.
The Libertarian Party of Canada, which fielded a candidate in Wild Rose the last time around, has no candidates this time. Likewise, the Canadian Action Party, which finished well back in Wetaskiwin riding in the last election has no candidates in Central Alberta.
Mason Sisson is among the newcomers who will embark on his first election campaign as a Green Party candidate in Red Deer riding. The 21-year-old production manager at Red Deer’s Drummond Brewery said he closely follows politics and decided to run to give people an alternative to the established parties.
“I’m just so dissatisfied with the games they’ve been playing since ’04. They will just not push together, the current parties that are in power.
“And with three consecutive minority governments the Canadian people are telling these parties we want them to work together. So I’m just trying to get my voice out there and try to tell people, you know, take a look at other options.”
Sisson chose the Green Party because they are willing to work with other parties to govern the country in a co-operative approach.
The key message is just get out and vote. “I don’t see staying home as a protest vote. You have to get out there, get to the ballot and show your discontent.”
Voters in Crowfoot and Wild Rose will have the option of voting for Christian Heritage Party of Canada for the first time.
Grade 12 student Randy Vanden Broek is representing the party in the Wild Rose riding. Vanden Broek, who lives in the Picture Butte area, said he doesn’t plan to campaign in the riding. The party is using the election to get its name out there and hopes to sow seeds for a local organization that will be in position to run a candidate from the area in future elections.
Vanden Broek said he has been interested in politics since his father ran for the party in Lethbridge a few years ago.
“I wanted to give opportunities for CHP members, Christians and social conservatives (and provide) a better choice than just the Conservative Party on the ballot.”
Among the late changes was a decision by Red Deer’s Matt Chapin not to run for the Progressive Canadian Party. Chapin said on Monday he could not raise the $1,000 registration fee.
Candidates running in Central Alberta ridings
RED DEER
CONSERVATIVE — Earl Dreeshen
GREEN — Mason Sisson
LIBERAL — Andrew Lineker
NDP — Stuart Somerville
CROWFOOT
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE PARTY OF CANADA — Gerard Groenendijk
CONSERVATIVE — Kevin Sorenson
GREEN — Konrad Schellenberg
INDEPENDENT — John C. Turner
LIBERAL — Omar Harb
NDP — Ellen Parker
WETASKIWIN
CONSERVATIVE — Blaine Calkins
GREEN — Robert Johnston
LIBERAL — Chris Anderson
NDP — Tim Robson
WILD ROSE
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE PARTY OF CANADA — Randy Vanden Broek
CONSERVATIVE — Blake Richards
GREEN — Mike MacDonald
LIBERAL — John Reilly
NDP — Jeff Horvath
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com