Rocky Mountain House’s Tammy Cote will be a member of Team PC in the next general election.
Cote, the great niece of Alberta’s first female lieutenant governor, secured the nod as part of “Super Saturday” where party faithful selected seven more PC candidates in constituencies across the province.
She will represent the Progressive Conservatives in the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre constituency. Cote’s great aunt is Helen Hunley, who held several cabinet positions as a PC MLA in the 1970s and was once the mayor of Rocky. She died in 2010.
Cote, 52, defeated contender Terry Engen, a former Lacombe County reeve and councillor, in the two-person contest.
Cote is branch manager for ATB Financial in Rocky, and has worked for the financial institution for 30 years.
“I am really grateful for the constituency support,” said Cote. “It feels like I have their backing. It is an incentive to work even harder for them.”
Once the election is called, Cote will take a leave of absence from the bank and she will resign if she is successful.
Cote has served as the local chamber of commerce president, sat on the economic development board, and been involved in a number of volunteer organizations.
“This is a new and larger way to serve people,” said Cote.
“That’s the way I look at management .. it’s about serving people. This is just the next step, a bigger way to do that.”
Cote and her husband Wayne, helped out on the Ty Lund campaign during the last election.
She said her only motive is to do the best she can to serve and represent the constituency in Edmonton.
“I am excited about the party,” said Cote. “The party is turning over a new leaf under a new leader who is very credible. I am excited to work for Premier Prentice.”
So far two others are officially in the race for MLA in the riding including current Independent MLA Joe Anglin and Wildrose Party candidate Jason Nixon. Anglin quit the Wildrose Party in November after a falling out with party members.
Recently Anglin “kicked the tires on the PCs” but in the end the two sides agreed that Anglin would be not be a good fit with the party.
On Sunday, Anglin said his platform has not changed since he was with the Wildrose which is “to stand up for his constituents.”
The PCs will hold another “Super Saturday” next week including a vote in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake where MLA Kerry Towle will face off against Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood for the nomination.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com