Lethbridge West candidates put byelection campaigns in gear
By Lethbridge Herald on November 20, 2024.
Herald photos -
Candidate Rob Miyashiro (NDP) at left, and John Middleton-Hope (UCP) at right, have officially begun their campaigns as voters in the Lethbridge West riding head to the polls in a byelection set for Dec. 18.Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com
With the byelection for Lethbridge West set to take place on Dec. 18, candidates for the NDP and UCP formally kicked off their campaigns to win their seat at the Alberta legislature as the representative for Lethbridge West.
Lethbridge-West NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro and UCP candidate John Middleton-Hope held press conferences Wednesday after a date was announced by Elections Alberta to talk about their campaigns.
Miyashiro told the Herald he was relieved to finally have a set date for the by-election after working hard for the last couple of months without knowing when it would take place.
“Part of it is relief and excitement that we get to move forward, we get to. Now we get to start getting the voters out, making sure that they will vote and then we can just bring this home,” said Miyashiro.
He said that thanks to the increase in membership to the New Democratic Party during the leadership race last year, that allowed them to have a strong support locally. But they continue to knock on everyone’s doors looking for supporters that may not necessarily be official members of the party but that are willing to support him.
“We started with people that we were pretty sure are going to support us, or people that have supported us in the past. And now we’re talking to as many people as possible in hopes that they’re going to provide that support in this election,” said Miyashiro.
He said he is hopeful those who supported Shannon Phillips throughout the years would continue to support the party by supporting him as he shares the same values as her when it comes to the NDP values.
“People understand that I also have the same values as the NDP, they know what I stand for, people know from my performance in City Council for eight years, what I was fighting for and fighting against and I think that’s been helpful as well,” said Miyashiro.
When talking about the date set for the election Miyashiro said there are a few emotions that came up when it was announced.
“We’re excited to have a set date, but also disappointed in the timing so close to Christmas, as it is an obstacle that we have to overcome, but we weren’t in control of that, so we just keep pushing forward and keep finding support and making sure that they are going to vote,” said Miyashiro.
He said it is unfortunate that there is a possibility that a percentage of the population won’t be around when the vote happens, but they are hopeful that those planning on leaving take advantage of advance voting which will take place from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14.
“We hope all of our people get out to vote from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12, never mind the 14. We want all of our people, all of our support to do it early, to make sure they can be around to vote and that’s where our big push is going to be the next few days,” said Miyashiro.
As UCP candidate John Middleton-Hope announced he was taking an unpaid leave of absence from City Council Wednesday, Miyashiro said his absence from his day job will be a little different.
“Fortunately, I banked holidays, so I don’t have to take a leave of absence. I’m actually on vacation. I mean it’s a similar thing, but I truly couldn’t go a month without getting paid,” said Miyashiro.
Middleton-Hope said he has set up his campaign headquarters in the heart of downtown in Festival Square at 333 6 St. S., the location making a statement that downtown is a place that is not only “salvageable” to be but a worthy place to be.
The campaign has invited groups to use the space, calling it a public space and his team wants people to use it.
Middleton-Hope said with the writ being dropped his campaign is moving into high gear, a campaign that actually started when he was elected the UCP candidate.
The candidate said he’s on the street, connecting with voters for about 10 hours a day in the riding which also includes areas on the east side of the Oldman River and encompasses 21,000 residences.
“We’re out door to door in the freezing cold meeting with Lethbridge constituents and spreading the word,” he said of his campaign team on Wednesday.
The campaign will be focusing on public safety, education, health care and infrastructure, “the key pieces that people are talking about at the doors,” said Middleton-Hope, those being the same issues that the campaign has been discussing with people since it started two months ago.
He noted that 61 doctors have moved to Lethbridge in the last two years with 27 in primary care and 34 being specialists.
“The government is laser focused on making sure that we have not only doctors here but we also have nurse practitioners setting up clinics in the city of Lethbridge,” said Middleton-Hope.
Residents are also concerned about the Canada Pension Plan, he said.
He said concerns NDP leader Naheed Nenshi expressed last week about the vote being held after exams are finished and many are leaving is that sentiment “assumes is that all students are somehow New Democratically oriented. That’s not true.”
-with files from Al Beeber
27-26
The timing of the byelection is excellent, before Christmas and therefore we will have our Lethbridge West, MLA situated for the New Year.
John Middleton-Hope and Rob Miyashiro (no hope) are at opposite poles of the spectrum. Middleton-Hope carries a sceptre of significant experience, education, common logic and most importantly, the proven dicipline it take to be a dedicated representative for our Lethbridge West community. (He currently serves as a Lethbridge City Council member). It is commenable that he (Middleton-Hope) has taken leave (without pay) to master his campaign, this in and of itself demonstrates his determination and dedication to serving constituents of Lethbridge West, a community where, by the way, he, his wife and some of his family, personally reside.
Rob Miyashiro on the otherhand, does not reside in the Lethbridge West constituency, he never has! He (this time) is wearing the colours of NDP, previously he suited as a Liberal (Federal election bid). Miyashiro; the records show, was a champion supporter of the Lethbridge “Supervised Consumption Site” (SCS) a facility that failed and bruised our city (community) gravely, the repercussions are to this day, being experienced. Miyashiro was renowned for being an absolute “bully” towards fellow City Council members while he sat as a Lethbridge City Councillor. (Bully, especially towards now, Lethbridge City Mayor, Blaine Hyggen.)
The NDP West Lethbridge history is nothing to be proud of, NDP Ms. Shannon Phillips was aloof, unresponsive and uncaring towards her constituents, failing to respond to constituent concerns, not responding to e-mails telephone calls, letters and/or requests for meetings. She dumped her constituency mid-term for no apparent reason and is now employed at the University of Lethbridge!
Lethbridge West deserves much better than failed NDP representation. We certainly do not need Miyashiro, who doesn’t even reside in the constituency! In fact when Miyashiro recently ran for MLA in Lethbridge East, (where he actually resides), his constituency voters rejected him electing instead, UCP candidate, Nathan Nuedorf. Having said this, it will be great to see Middleton-Hope as our Lethbridge West, UCP – MLA working in concert with Lethbridge East – UCP – MLA, Nathan Nuedorf towards the betterment of the City of Lethbridge.
As a resident in the Lethbridge West constituency, I will be casting my vote for a progressive, positive, honest and reliable person, John Middleton-Hope. Please join me and do likewise.
I see the NDP echo chamber and Pearl clutches have shown up with the down votes Harold.
Miyashiro must be purposely ignoring the fact the reformation of the health care system is well underway and remains to be seen as to success. So far there are some successes, more doctors, nurse practitioners, etc. However, this doesn’t get more money for his union friends so improving the system doesn’t count.
As provincial NDP are tied to the Federal NDP via a manifest and you can’t just be a provincial member of the club as you are automatically a member of the Federal NDP, what is your stance on that. If this is not the case why did Nenshi campaign on disconnecting from the Feds. What is Rob’s position on Singh propping up the failed Liberal government??
What is Rob’s position on a federal NDP MP wearing a watermelon pin in support of Palestine in “happy hour” in Ottawa and comparing it to and being the same as wearing a poppy.
What is Rob’s plan for fixing health care, when that is underway? Disband it, load the unions bank accounts and start over??
https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2024/11/21/province-expanding-nurse-practitioner-program/
What doesn’t Rob like about this???
What is Rob’s plan for education? Taking the ability of parents to have a say in what their children are being subjected to in the classroom away??
Many questions for this person. West Lethbridge needs to have their eyes open on this by election.
Let’s hear what Middle – Hope has to say on the same questions!!!
I would add that every province is struggling with doctor and nurse shortages, not just Alberta.
Agree it’s only the NDP IN Alberta that don’t recognize that very fact. Why bother with facts when you can bash the government.
And isn’t it cute how his hind leg twitches when Danielle scratches him behind the ear?
This is an important byelection and I would hope even though it is in a busy season that everyone makes it out to vote, no matter which candidate you are voting for. Please come out and vote. This city needs a strong voice in Edmonton with a constituency office that is open for its constituents and is there for them.