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Penhold councillor wants to be UCP candidate for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake

Mike Walsh wants to run in the byelection to replace Don MacIntyre
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Mike Walsh (photo from his website).

A Penhold town councillor is throwing his hat into the provincial ring by seeking the United Conservative Party’s nomination in the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake constituency.

Mike Walsh said he’s grateful to have been elected to Penhold council for two terms. Since getting on in 2013, he believes he’s proven himself as a good communicator and a “transparent” representative, which he feels are important qualities for a politician.

Related:

MacIntyre resigns

Low-key election forum

Although Walsh has enjoyed delving into local water issues and helping the community locate a new well, he feels ready “to take the next step” by running in a by-election to fill the seat of former area MLA Don MacIntyre.

MacIntyre announced last week he is resigning from politics to “focus on family.”

Walsh said Penhold town administrators are looking into the Municipal Government Act to see whether he can take a temporary leave from his council position until the nomination is decided or the byelection is over.

The Innisfail Middle School teacher, who formerly lived in Red Deer, intends to step down from his council job if he has to, but he’s hoping to take a leave until results are known.

No date has been set yet for the vote by United Conservative Party members, or for the general byelection.

Walsh, a married father, is the only one to declare his intention to run for the UCP nomination, so far, in the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake riding.

But Randy Thorsteinson has stated he intends to run in the byelection for the Reform Party of Alberta, of which he is leader.