Red Deer County Coun. Christine Moore has made the jump to provincial politics.
Moore defeated Red Deer city Coun. Buck Buchanan to become the Progressive Conservative candidate for Red Deer North, replacing five-term MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, who recently announced she would not run again.
A third candidate, former city councillor and local businessman Jeffrey Dawson unexpectedly dropped out of the race an hour after advanced polling began on Thursday.
Next in Moore’s sights will be holding the seat in the next provincial election, widely expected this spring.
Moore said she’s ready to go.
“I’m absolutely delighted. I’m really looking forward to working hard to represent Red Deer North,” she said shortly after the results were announced at Festival Hall on Saturday night.
Moore, who was in her first term as a county councillor, said she is eager to step into a new political arena.
“I feel I’ve got the breadth of experience,” she said, pointing to her years on Red Deer Catholic Regional School Board, where she became chair, and on Red Deer College’s Board of Governors.
“I know the community and I know the people and it just seemed the right thing to do. These opportunities only come up once in a while.”
Moore has no illusions that the job will not be an easy one if she is elected given the province’s economic situation.
“I’m a hard worker and I’m up for a challenge”
The new vision of Premier Jim Prentice for Alberta was a major factor in her decision as well, she said.
In Drumheller-Stettler riding, three candidates were vying for the PC nomination, including former MLA Jack Hayden, who was defeated in the last election by Wildrose Party’s Rick Strankman, who is running again.
Hayden defeated challengers Greggory Jackson and Ed Mah to carry the party’s flag into the next election.
The party’s final Super Saturday nomination races will see Peter DeWit, Larry Henkelman, Rod Fox and Wayne Rempel seek the PC nomination in Lacombe-Ponoka. The seat was held by former Wildrose Party MLA Rod Fox, who crossed the floor to join the Conservatives.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com