Two Stettler men and a Drumheller businessman have thrown their hats into the ring in an attempt to win the Progressive Conservative nomination for the riding of Drumheller-Stettler.
Former PC MLA Jack Hayden, County of Stettler councillor Greggory Jackson and Drumheller businessman Ed Mau received the required number of signatures from members of the local PC party association and submitted papers by the deadline on March 7.
Jack Hayden replaced deputy premier Shelly McClellan in 2007 after she stepped down and he won the by-election. He went on to win the next provincial election, but lost the last to incumbent Rick Strankman of the Wildrose Party in 2012. During his time in office as an MLA, 2007-2012, Hayden served as a Minister in three different portfolios, including energy.
Jackson currently works at Metalex Metal Buildings as a project manager and is deputy reeve for the county. A father of three, he currently resides on the family farm, which dates back a century.
Mau lives in Drumheller, where he once owned the McDonald's franchise. He now sits on the board of directors for the Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society. This is the first time for both Jackson and Mau on the PC ballot.
“It's exciting to have three nominees,” Doug Jones, chair of the Drumheller- Stettler PC board, said. He said he “looks forward to taking this constituency out of the wilderness of the last four years.”
There will be open forums in the seven major communities in the riding over the coming weeks, where members of the party can get to know the three candidates.
The final ballot to choose the PC candidate for the riding will be held on March 21. Those seeking information on party memberships or how to vote (if a member of the party) can contact Bert McFadyen, the chair of the nomination committee, at 403-664-0816.
As of press time, the Liberal Party of Alberta had not yet named any candidates for the riding. The provincial NDP party had not responded to inquiries.