Torry Tanner wins UCP nomination in Lethbridge-West
By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on March 16, 2023.
Torry Tanner has been chosen as the UCP's Lethbridge-West candidate. Submitted photoThe votes are in and the ballots have been counted, Torry Tanner has been elected by the UCP Lethbridge West Constituency Association to represent them in the upcoming election. Tanner will be vying for the Lethbridge-West seat, going up against Shannon Phillips, the current MLA for that riding. With the election slated for May 29, the engines are revving and tires are ready to burn rubber.
“It’s happening! We started small with a snowball and now I can see it growing exponentially,” said Tanner Wednesday.
The UCP Constituency held its election for the candidacy Tuesday at the Lethbridge Public Library, with Tanner going up against Rick Dempsey.
“I was blessed with so many amazing people around and supporters. The energy was just palpable,” said Tanner.
“Focus from the beginning with me and my team has been on the election, not the nomination. I was prepared to support Rick 100 per cent if he had won. But for me, the focus is the election, 100-percent.”
Tanner hopes to be a bridge for the community if she wins the Lethbridge-West riding, serving those who elected her to the position.
“I love hearing peoples’ stories, I have been advised that I shouldn’t take so much time at the doors, but for me it’s really important. You can’t get to know somebody in five minutes, right? If someone wants to engage with me and tell me their story, they just need someone who will listen to them and actually hear them. That is what it is all about for me, investing in people.”
Tanner notes though she would entertain a ministerial position if it was presented to her, she is invested in Lethbridge and the community here.
“I can’t make that decision now, obviously. But that is certainly not what I desire. I do not want to be gone all the time. As I told my team and people, I report to them, I report to the constituents, and so my responsibility is to be here on the ground.”
With one election done, and onto the next, Tanner says she will be hitting the ground running. “It’s not going to be easy, but I think that we are going to do the same thing we have been doing, which is building community, building relationships, and building trust. I hope to bring that into the election campaign,” said Tanner.
“Right now we are looking for a campaign office, we want to make sure that it is accessible for people.” Tanner can be reached via her Facebook page, facebook.com/torry.tanner.3, or email at torrytanner@gmail.com.
Fresh off her first political win, Tanner will now set her sights on the main prize. “I will be out there as much as I can meeting people,” said Tanner. “If they have any questions, they can contact me and I will gladly come and meet with them.”
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I hope you are prepared for a dirty campaign against you based on Shannon Phillips’ past history of vicious attacks on almost everything and her display in the Legislature a few weeks ago against MLA East Nathan Neudorf. You will win, so remain steadfast on the grounds that individuals really do know how the SCS destroyed this city and are disturbed that their tax dollars are doing to pay for a frivlous lawsuit against the LPS.
I am certain that you will prevail and restore some class to the Lethbridge West office.