With the departure of Ken Kowalski from the provincial political scene when the next election is called, it’s important for voters in the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock riding to recognize the opportunity that lies before them.
No matter your thoughts on Kowalski and the work he has done, his decision to leave politics after more than three decades in office provides a unique chance for voters to choose a new path.
For the first time since the 1970s, the race in the riding is wide open, with new faces ready to take on the challenge of representing the area for the foreseeable future.
For members of the Progressive Conservative party in particular, take your time and consider very carefully each of the five individuals who have chosen to seek the nomination to run in the next election.
Each one of them has a unique skill set and range of experiences that can both help and hinder their duties as MLA. Think about what they tell you and what they stand for. Don’t simply vote for the person you like the most; instead, vote for the one you think will do the best job.
Above all, respect that they’ve chosen to put themselves out there in a way far greater than they may have in the past.
While being a mayor, town councillor, county councillor or ministerial assistant can be a public position, it’s quite apart from potentially being the face of a huge swath of land and being visible to millions of people who follow the provincial political scene in Alberta.
It’s not easy to put oneself out there like that.
For the Wildrose party, which has had a candidate in place for years, Kowalski’s departure means the landscape has shifted. No longer battling both the PC party and name recognition, it’s a chance to get a bigger foot in the door.
The same holds true for the NDP, which recently nominated its candidate. Without the monolith that was Kowalski seeking another term, the NDP may break through when the election is called.
And there are the other parties that will inevitably run candidates in the riding. Doubtless they each will choose the person they feel will best represent the party’s ideals and the riding as a whole, and each will recognize the opportunity that lies before them.
For all voters in Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, no matter your political affiliation, pay attention to the PC nomination race. Know who the PC candidate will be before the election is called. Get to know him or her.
Any election, even one that could be as far as a year away, is a chance for renewal and change.
There will already be some change here in Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock. It’s up to voters to decide how much they want.
