Strathcona County Councillor Bill Tonita has announced his plans to seek the Alberta NDP nomination in the Strathcona-Sherwood Park riding, located directly east of Edmonton. Tonita has represented Ward 4 on the county council since 2017.
“Like many Albertans, I believe government must always lead with integrity,” Tonita said in a video announcing his candidacy.
“Politicians should be people we can trust,” he said. “People who care about their constituents, people who are driven by a passion to grow this province and create a future that is bright for all Albertans to live, work and raise their families.”
Tonita will be well-known to many people in Strathcona County, having worked as the Principal of John Paul II Catholic High School from 2008 to 2014 and Jean Vanier Catholic School from 2003 to 2008.
He is currently Vice-chair of the Saffron Sexual Assault Centre, Chair of the Capital Region Northeast Water Services Commission.
The NDP have scheduled a nomination meeting on June 9, 2022.
United Conservative Party MLA Nate Glubish has already been nominated by his party to run for re-election. Glubish currently serves as Minister of Service Alberta and was elected in 2019 with 52 per cent of the vote. NDP MLA Estefan Cortes-Vargas represented the riding from 2015 to 2019.
Former MLA Annie McKitrick and solar energy company president Kyle Kasawski are running for the NDP nomination in the neighbouring Sherwood Park riding.
Both the Strathcona-Sherwood Park and Sherwood Park ridings are considered high on the NDP’s list of target ridings needed in order to form government in the next election.
I am tracking candidates and building a list of people running for nominations to run in Alberta’s next provincial election. If you know of someone running, please post a comment below or email me at david.cournoyer@gmail.com. Thank you!
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