PC Leadership Nomination for Grande Prairie-Smoky
Whether you’re a supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party or not, voting in this leadership race is a good idea because it allows you to choose a potential future MLA without jeopardizing your own political views -- you aren’t putting in a competitive vote against any other political party.
In order to vote, you need to be a Canadian citizen, living in the GP-Smoky constituency area and 16 years of age or older. You also need to purchase a membership to the PC Party, which will cost $5.
The GP-Smoky constituency covers a huge geographic area from Grande Prairie to beyond Fox Creek. City of Grande Prairie residents need to live north of the tracks on 98th Avenue to be eligible. The voting station is at the Grande Prairie Inn. You can check by postal code whether or not you live in the right area, http://streetkey.elections.ab.ca/skSearchPostal.cfm.
Voting is done on a preferential ballot, so voters can select a first and second choice. Your second choice vote will come into effect after the votes determine who the top two choices are. The second choice votes from the unsuccessful candidate(s) will then be added to the votes of the top two candidates.
We have 3 really great candidates for the leadership race. Here’s a summary of the background for the political candidates that I’ve compiled (in alphabetical order). I apologize in advance if I’ve missed any important information.
Tom Burton
Tom has lived in the DeBolt area since 1976. He is currently a heavy equipment operator, but his former occupations include surveyor, owner/operator of a service station and restaurant and general manager for the local agricultural society. His background includes being a volunteer member of the DeBolt Fire and Rescue.
As a Councillor with the MD of Greenview for the past 11 years, Tom is passionate about working for the region. He is also Director of district 4 for the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, a provincial advocacy group. His many years on council have provided him the opportunity to sit on many boards and committees dealing with provincial issues such as the Alberta Rural Utilities Association, AUMA/AAMDC Strategic Alliance Operating Committee, Endangered Species Conservation Committee, Fire Services Advisory Committee, FireSmart–Partners in Protection, Forest Protection Advisory Committee, Justice Policy Advisory Committee, Used Oil Management Association, and Cabinet Policy Committees, to name a few.
Tom would like to represent the regional on issues like education, health care, the oil and gas industry, forestry and agriculture. His only promise is to work to the best of his ability and for the people.
Everett McDonald
Everett was raised in the Grande Prairie area, on a farm east of the city. His family has roots in this area that date back 100 years. He has over 19 years experience on council for the County of Grande Prairie, including 8 years as Reeve. Everett currently serves as Chair of the Northern Alberta Elected Leaders, a group of urban and rural leaders who meet to discuss issues important to northern communities. He has sat on various boards throughout his political career.
Everett has demonstrated strong leadership at the County of Grande Prairie, poising the County as one of the strongest municipalities in Alberta. He has demonstrated successful lobbying at the provincial government level. He believes his experience as a leader in a rural municipality will translate over well into regional, representing both urban and rural, if elected into the position of MLA.
Top priorities for this candidate include health care, MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) Grant funding, simplifying agriculture program forms, improving seniors’ quality of life, fiscal responsibility, responsible development of resources, and the fight against the mountain pine beetle infestation.
Tab Pollock
Tab grew up in the city of Grande Prairie and is involved in organizations such as Rotary, Ducks Unlimited, Scouts, Minor Hockey as a coach, and the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie. He’s a past chair of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce and on the executive of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce. He is a small business owner with 22 years of retail business experience and is a Dale Carnegie Trainer of business and leadership programs.
Tab is a young, innovative leader who has connections to influential people at the provincial government level. He has little in the way of a political background, which he feels is a strength, in providing the region with a strong voice. His background is urban with family roots in rural Alberta, which would provide him with a balanced point of view.
Priorities for Tab’s campaign include strengthening the economy, health care, education, funding for municipalities, technology for voting, and collaboration between different levels of government.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL NOMINEES! We have 3 great choices and can’t really go wrong with any of them.
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