The NDP have attracted a big name to run against United Conservative Party Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides. Former City Councillor Druh Farrell announced on social media today that she plans to seek the Alberta NDP nomination in Calgary-Bow.
I'm excited to let you know that I am running for the @albertaNDP nomination in Calgary-Bow. pic.twitter.com/lN9nTkBHJ3
— Druh Farrell (@DruhFarrell) February 21, 2022
“As a born and raised Albertan I can no longer stand by as the government attacks our education and healthcare systems, makes everyday life more expensive, and proposes devastating changes to our wild places,” Farrell said in her online announcement.
Farrell served on city council for 20 years before retiring from municipal politics last October. She was a leading progressive voice in Calgary’s municipal debates during her time as Councillor, making her a frequent target of right-wing commentators and political action committees.
Nicolaides was elected in 2019 with 55 per cent of the vote, unseating NDP MLA Deborah Drever, who placed second with 34 per cent.
Other nomination updates:
- Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schulz is running for re-election in Calgary-Shaw. The UCP nomination meeting is scheduled for March 21. Shultz was first elected in 2019 with 65 per cent of the vote.
- Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda running for re-election in Calgary-Edgemont. The UCP nomination meeting is scheduled for March 24. He was first elected in a 2015 by-election in Calgary-Foothills to replace former Premier Jim Prentice, and was re-elected in the new riding in 2019 with 52 per cent. If nominated he will face a re-match with NDP candidate Julia Hayter.
- Gurinder Brar has been nominated as the NDP candidate in Calgary-North East.
- Richard Bruneau third candidate to enter NDP nomination contest in Camrose. Bruneau is a bookstore owner, farmer and former Canadian diplomat who served in Afghanistan, Jordan and Palestine.
- The Medicine Hat News reports on nomination news in Brooks-Medicine Hat and Cypress-Medicine Hat.
- The Green Party will not be running a candidate in the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche by-election. Party leader Jordan Wilkie told the Cross Border Interveiws Podcast that the Greens will be sitting this one out.
- UCP candidate Brian Jean appears to be more focused on ousting Jason Kenney at the April 9 leadership review and less focused on the by-election he is running in.
It certainly feels like Alberta’s political parties have shifted into campaign mode, despite the next election expected to be a year away.
NDP leader Rachel Notley was joined by an army of MLAs and volunteers for a day-long canvass in the Strathcona-Sherwood Park riding east of Edmonton. MLAs David Eggen and Lorne Dach were spotted with volunteers canvassing door to door in Edmonton-South West, and MLA Richard Feehan was door-knocking with volunteers in Calgary-Foothills and with candidate Janet Eremenko in Calgary-Currie this week. Up north, MLA Rakhi Pancholi spent most of the week campaigning alongside NDP candidate Ariana Mancini in the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche by-election.
And candidate nomination are ramping up. Here are the upcoming nomination meetings that have been scheduled:
- Calgary-Elbow NDP: March 5, 2022
- Calgary-Bhullar-McCall NDP: March 10, 2022
- Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland NDP: March 12, 2022
- Lesser Slave Lake NDP: March 13, 2022
- Calgary-Shaw UCP: March 21, 2022
- Calgary-South East UCP: March 21, 2022
- Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre UCP: March 21, 2022
- Calgary-Edgemont UCP: March 24, 2022
- Calgary-Klein UCP: March 24, 2022
- St. Albert NDP: March 24, 2022
- Calgary-Klein NDP: March 26, 2022,
- Camrose NDP: April 3, 2022
One reply on “Former City Councillor Druh Farrell running for NDP in Calgary-Bow, UCP MLAs Prasad Panda and Rebecca Schulz running for re-election”
Well this could be interesting. It used to be that municipal politicians stepped up to run for the PC’s. Well, no more PC party any more. The times are changing.