By Chelsea Laskowski

Local Sask. Party members to choose Hickie’s successor

Sep 30, 2014 | 9:40 PM

Five people are hoping to fill Prince Albert’s Exhibition Centre with Saskatchewan Party supporters as they choose the next Prince Albert-Carlton candidate.

The next provincial election is over a year away.

Wednesday night will feature speeches from the five candidates looking to keep the Sask. Party’s winning streak alive eight years after Darryl Hickie took the riding for the first time in the party’s history. Hickie announced he’ll be retiring from politics after this election. 

The Sask. Party doesn’t publicly release its membership counts, but its executive director Patrick Bundrock said the riding has 500 Saskatchewan Party members.

This includes members signed up by the candidates while campaigning.

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“In the lead up period many of the candidates are out campaigning, connecting with members of the community, selling memberships and seeking support for their individual candidacies,” Bundrock said.

He added it comes down to one major component on Wednesday; “selling the memberships is one thing but actually having the people at the meeting, attending and voting is the other thing.”

Bundrock said the riding has had solid membership sales, and “I would say P.A. is a very active Saskatchewan Party constituency.”

Although five candidates may seem high, there are many constituencies with four or more people vying to become a Sask. Party candidate.

Voting starts at 7:30 p.m., and each candidate gets a chance to address the audience.

During the voting, Hickie will speak as well.

CANDIDATES

David Bach 

Occupation: Independent businessman, past experience in banking, owner of Alberta golf course

Platform hints:

Growth agenda for Prince Albert, and provincial recognition of what the city has to offer

Community involvement: President of landlord association, serving on the provincial Social Services Appeals Board, and been a director with the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce

Sask. Party history: Darryl Hickie’s campaign manager in 2007 and 2011

Political history: No elected experience

Cheryl Ring 

Occupation: Co-owner of Ring Appraisals, student counsellor at Carlton High School, artist

Platform hints: “I do see that there are other large infrastructure projects going forward, and we know that they’re going forward in a different format. So maybe that is an approach that we have to look at. I’m not sure. I think we have to look at all options, and that might be an option. A way to go.” 

Community involvement: Work with numerous arts groups and festivals, speaking at events as a city councilor, pottery instructor, emceeing numerous workshops for women and girls.

Sask. Party history: Unavailable at publication time

Political history: Served as councillor for Ward 5 in Prince Albert from 2009 to 2012

Robin Finlayson 

Occupation:  University of Saskatchewan and SIAST instructor and forensic psychologist

Platform hints: “When I look at the work that the Saskatchewan Party and Mr. Wall have done so far, they’ve really turned Saskatchewan into a ‘have’ province and given everybody, you know, our kids a reason to stay. And I would like to bring some of what the Saskatchewan Party has done for the province in whole to Prince Albert and give our kids a reason to stay in Prince Albert.”

Community involvement: Alpine ski coach, including Lakeland District during the 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games

Sask. Party history: helping with past campaigns

Political history: Unavailable at publication time

Al Jurgens 

Occupation: Owner, Big Al’s Forest Service, forestation specialist

Platform hints:

Economic growth and interaction with city officials and the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, as well as City officials to see how they can achieve better results.

Education through Saskatchewan Polytechnic, expansion of trades programs

A second bridge through a P3 framework

A new hospital entirely funded by the province

Community Involvement: Board member with Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, past vice president of Saskatchewan Forest Association, past school board chair

Sask. Party history: 12 years volunteering, including working as wife Victoria’s campaign manager when she ran for Prince Albert Northcote

Political history: No elected history, previously ran for Sask. Party nomination

Joe Hargrave 

Occupation: Owner, Riverside Dodge

Platform hints: 

Building bridges between the City, province, and the federal government, as a means to bringing more economic development to the city.

Community involvement: Active member of the Prince Albert Community Futures Board and Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioner. Past or present member of City’s economic development board, Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce, Victoria Hospital Foundation board, and Rotary Club board

Sask. Party history: Longtime contributor, short time as member

Political history: No elected experience

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk