Voters have their say at advance polls
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on May 24, 2023.
Herald photo by Delon Shurtz
Randy Devine and his wife Candy discuss the election with a friend after voting at an advance poll Tuesday at the Westminster Community Centre on the northside.LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
Randy Devine and his wife Candy don’t exactly believe this election comes down to choosing the lesser of all evils.
In fact, they are convinced MLA Nathan Neudorf of the United Conservative Party is far and away the best candidate running in the Lethbridge East constituency.
“I like that he was voted by his colleagues as Alberta’s hardest working MLA,” Randy said Tuesday, only minutes after voting at an advance poll set up at the Westminster Community Centre on the northside of the city.
Randy prefers the United Conservative Party over the other parties, but admits that for this election, he’s voting for the candidate more than the party.
Candy agrees, and said even though some members of their family are in the NDP camp, she is impressed with the UCP and Neudorf’s stand on fiscal responsibility.
Candy isn’t rabidly against any of the other parties or their supporters, and said they all share in common a desire to care for all Albertans. She suggests Albertans, regardless of which political sign they have on their lawns, may not be as divided as they appear.
“I feel like at the heart of Albertans, people care about the same things,” she said.
The couple hopes whichever party forms the next government focuses on children and ensures they have access to a strong education system. They worry that too many struggle with such things as simple math. They also believe helping homeless people in the province and giving them a hand up, not a handout, is critical to building a stronger province.
Randy, who owns his own home renovations business, tries to hire people who need jobs and are willing to put in an honest day’s work, something he sees too little of these days.
“It’s not about people who want to work, it’s about people who want a paycheck,” he said.
The couple also wants to see more services for the handicapped, for example people with brain injuries, for whom Candy said there really aren’t any services available in the city.
The two recent newcomers to Alberta have paid close attention to the election and what people are saying about it, and one of their biggest concerns is the division it is causing among people.
That is also the concern of one of their friends, who attended the advance poll at the same time but preferred to remain anonymous. She also believes Alberta has the capacity to be a big player on the world stage, but only under the right government, which she believes is the UCP.
“I think we have things to offer, but that will go away under the NDP,” she said.
As voters continue to head to the advance polls, here is a list of locations in the coming days, beginning with today, Lethbridge East:
· Westminster Neighbourhood Association – 411 16 Street N., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Parkbridge Estates – 2920 29 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lethbridge West:
· Cor Van Raay YMCA North Entrance – 74 Mauretania Road W., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· University Drive Alliance Church – 55 Columbia Boulevard W., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Southern Alberta Ethnic Association – 421 6 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Advanced vote locations for Thursday
Lethbridge East:
· Westminster Neighbourhood Association – 411 16 Street N., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Parkbridge Estates – 2920 29 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lethbridge West:
· University Drive Alliance Church – 55 Columbia Boulevard W., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Southern Alberta Ethnic Association – 421 6 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· University of Lethbridge – 4401 University Drive W., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Advanced voting locations for Friday, Lethbridge East:
· Parkbridge Estates – 2920 29 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· The Salvation Army Community Church – 1302 4 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lethbridge West:
· University Drive Alliance Church – 55 Columbia Boulevard W., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Park Place Mall – 501 1 Avenue S., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Centre Village Mall – 1240 2A Avenue N., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Advanced vote locations for Saturday
Lethbridge East:
· Parkbridge Estates – 2920 29 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· The Salvation Army Community Church – 1302 4 Avenue S., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lethbridge West:
· University Drive Alliance Church – 55 Columbia Boulevard W., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Park Place Mall – 501 1 Avenue S., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
· Centre Village Mall – 1240 2A Avenue N., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter
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