With the provincial and federal elections both taking place in 2019, constituency associations are mobilizing and drumming up volunteers.
Cochranite Andy Marshall will be hosting an open meeting for the Banff-Airdrie Federal NDP Constituency Association at his home on March 25 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at 61 Carolina Drive.
“It’s an invitation for anyone who wants to get involved,” said Marshall, president of the local constituency association.
He said next steps are to create a formal organization and to search and ratify a candidate within the next six months, to be ahead of the anticipated fall announcement for a 2019 federal election.
The history of NDP success in the Cochrane region has been lukewarm, with Marshall citing a spike of support of 13 per cent in support of former First Nations candidate Jeff Horvath.
While Conservative MP Blake Richards has announced he will be seeking re-election for his fourth term as representative of Banff-Airdrie, Marshall does not believe the strong conservative support in the riding should deter people from getting on board.
“I think there should be choice – and there are a lot of people who don’t necessarily agree with conservative policies,” said Marshall, a retired journalist and former town councillor.
“I was drawn to them because I felt they were a party that espoused and believed in compassion for people and equality – principles they’re still practising.”
At the provincial level, Marshall said that a candidate for the new riding of Airdrie-Cochrane will be selected “in the coming weeks.”
Cam Westhead, current NDP MLA for Banff-Cochrane, will be running again under the NDP banner for the new riding of Banff-Kananaskis once the election writ is dropped and the new boundaries come into effect.
Marshall said he thinks highly of Westhead and has found him to be an effective leader who is “intelligent, calm … and honest, good man who well serves the people” in his riding.
For those interested in learning more, or to RSVP to the federal constituency association meeting this Sunday contact [email protected] or 403-932-6580.
