NEWS FILE PHOTO
One of Jim Black's campaign signs from the 2015 election is seen in htis file photo. Black will once again run for the Alberta Party, this time in the redrawn Brooks-Medicine Hat riding.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com @MHNGillianSlade
There are now two confirmed candidates running in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding for the provincial election next year.
Jim Black has been vetted and endorsed as the Alberta Party’s candidate in this riding, said Mark Taylor, executive director Alberta Party. Black was the only contestant and was therefore acclaimed after being approved by the party following the Nov. 21 cutoff date for contestants to submit applications.
According to the Elections Alberta website Black will be officially endorsed as the candidate on Friday. Taylor says that is simply a formality on the website.
It feels good to be a candidate, said Black. From first submitting his name as a contest to finally reaching the stage of endorsement by the party took a long time but it was a way to ensure the process was open and gave opportunity for others to join the race.
“I fully endorsed that ideal,” said Black.
Black is a retired school teacher who currently teaches at an alternative night school in Bow Island. He has consistently stated the key issues in the next election will be the provincial debt, the carbon tax and the state of health care.
The other declared candidate in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding is Michaela Glasgo for the United Conservative Party.
No other parties have declared candidates in this riding yet, according to Elections Alberta website.
The Brooks-Medicine Hat riding covers the whole of the north side of Medicine Hat, north of the South Saskatchewan River, plus a portion of the city south of the river. This includes all people living in Harlow, River Heights, and the hospital area. It includes those on the north side of Gershaw Drive, up to the river. The eastern boundary is South Railway Street and on the west, the Trans-Canada Highway.