The United Conservative Party has opened the nomination contest in the riding of Drumheller - Stettler. The exact dates for the close of membership sales and voting dates and locations have not been confirmed.
A nomination process is when a party has an internal constituency election to determine who will be the candidate for the next provincial election. Voting takes place at predetermined locations over a short period of time to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote.
Since the adjournment of the Legislature on June 7 my campaign team and I have been widely travelling the constituency selling memberships and letting people know that in order for us to continue the work we have been doing for the last 6 years we must be successful in the current nomination.
With harvest getting into full swing this is perhaps not the most opportune time to be holding an event that requires members to take time away but we will try to give you the information in the timeliest fashion so arrangements can be made to participate in the voting.
In October of 2011 I was nominated as the candidate for the Wildrose party, during that nomination contest there were six polls or nomination events (Stettler, Castor, Consort, Oyen, Drumheller and Hanna) where members could go and easily cast their ballot. With the expansion of the riding, we anticipate that there will be additional polls/events added to the list of locations, likely in Provost and/or Acadia Valley.
This internal party process can be rather confusing because it does not determine who will be the MLA after the next provincial election is called; this process determines which person will have their name on the ballot for the United Conservative Party. The UCP believes that the grassroots, the rank and file members, should determine who their candidate will be as opposed to a top-down selection being made by the management of the party.
This is an important time for you as an Albertan to get involved in the process of deciding who you believe will best represent you and your values in the Alberta Legislature. As the dates move closer we will do our best to reach out to all members and constituents of the Drumheller Stettler riding to keep you informed. You can reach out through my Facebook page if there are any questions you have.
In the meantime, we will continue to sell memberships, knock on doors and answer questions to anyone interested in having a democratic say in the nomination race and build a solid base of supporters.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased a membership in the new Drumheller Stettler riding. If you have not yet and would like to become a member you can reach us at LorneMurfitt@telus.net or 403-819-4170, Lorne Murfitt.