UCP West names election hopefuls

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 30, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Three candidates will be seeking to earn the nomination to represent the UCP in Lethbridge West when premier Danielle Smith calls a by-election to fill the seat vacated in July by NDP MLA Shannon Phillips.

The three include Erin Leclerc, John Middleton-Hope and Shauna Gruninger.

The UCP Lethbridge West constituency association unveiled the candidates on Wednesday night.

To vote in the nomination contest on Sept. 23, residents must have a UCP membership by Sept. 2.

A forum will be staged on Sept. 12 from 7 until 9 p.m. in the Lethbridge Public Library theatre gallery for members to engage the candidates to help them make an informed decision.

Leclerc has experience in politics through her work as the former constituency office managers for Lethbridge East MLA Nathan Neudorf and Lethbridge Conservative MP Rachael Thomas.

Middlton-Hope is a former Lethbridge police chief with decades of experience in law enforcement, leadership and academics who currently sits on city council to which he was elected in 2021.

Gruninger is a real estate professional and entrepreneur with a strong bond to the community and what the constituency association calls vibrant connections to the Lethbridge West riding.

The winner of the nomination will take on either Rob Miyashiro or Bridget Mearns, who are vying to carry the NDP colours in the by-election.

NDP members will vote for their choice of candidate on Sept. 7.

In the 2023 provincial election, the UCP was represented by Cheryl Seaborn, a former constituency president who was selected to represent the riding after the resignation of the party’s initial candidate Torry Tanner after videos surfaced of her making inflammatory comments about Alberta students being exposed to pornography and being helped to change their gender identity by teachers.

Seaborn lost to the NDP’ Phillips who won the riding in three straight elections.

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