Wanner seriously considers re-election
By Jeremy Appel on July 26, 2018.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner says he’s “giving very serious consideration to running” for re-election in 2019. Wanner was joined by Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sarah Hoffman at a fundraiser for the NDP’s 2019 campaign Wednesday at a local supporter’s home. He told the News he’s been actively encouraged to run again by many of his constituents, but has yet to make a definitive decision. “You don’t take this job on too easily,” said Wanner. “You’ve got to think it out.” The Medicine Hat riding he represents in the legislature will no longer exist when the writ drops for next year’s election. Due to the recommendations of the non-partisan Electoral Boundary Commission, three new ridings will be added to Edmonton, Calgary and Airdrie. As a result, some rural and rural-adjacent ridings had to be consolidated, including Medicine Hat, which will be comprised of the new Brooks-Medicine Hat and Cypress-Medicine Hat ridings. The latter is presently represented by UCP finance critic Drew Barnes. “Our province has changed a great deal in the last several years,” said Wanner. “We do our business on an international level. We have a dynamic economy. We have very good environmental protection and we have the essential public services that people want.” Although polls have consistently showed Premier Rachel Notley trailing UCP leader Jason Kenney everywhere in the province but Edmonton, Hoffman seemed similarly confident in her party’s electoral prospects. “If we only looked at polls or pundits, we’d anticipate that (former Wildrose leader) Danielle Smith would be premier right now,” she said, adding she attended the event to help raise money for whomever runs for the NDP in Cypress-Medicine Hat. “We know that people are going to be putting a lot of money into this riding.” 15
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