UCP’s Cypress-MH nomination race set

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on February 15, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

There are two official nominees to become the United Conservative Party candidate for Cypress-Medicine Hat, with party members set to vote before mid-March.

Last month the party announced it would close the nomination process Feb. 9 to run in the riding, which is represented by former UCP MLA Drew Barnes.

The now-independent MLA has said he would not seek to rejoin the party by vying for the local nomination, and he hasn’t announced his plans ahead of the expected general election in May.

UCP officials state that two nominees have been formally accepted to contend to become the candidate. According to party rules, a vote must be scheduled between March 2 and 16, but no date has been set.

Justin Wright, 38, is the constituency association’s former financial secretary. He operates Fryer Tucks food trucks and operates canteens in City of Medicine Hat arenas as well as the Medicine Hat Stampede grounds.

Former broadcasting executive James Finkbeiner, 35, is a Redcliff native who moved back to the city in mid-2022. The former executive with the Western Standard online news outlet was the first to declare he would seek the party’s nod to run in the area last November.

Both men are now actively campaigning, they told the News this week.

To be eligible to vote in the nomination process, a resident of the riding must be a party member 21 days before the vote takes place. No schedule has been formally announced.

Local New Democrats will vote Feb. 28 to decide a Cypress-Medicine Hat candidate between three nominees: Tim Gruber, Cathy Hogg and David Martin. New party members had until Feb. 14 to become eligible to vote.

The Green Party has endorsed Dustin Cartwright as its candidate.

Smith fundraiser

The UCP has scheduled a fundraising event in Medicine Hat next week with Premier Danielle Smith, the MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat.

The evening event will be held Feb. 21 at the Whiskey District. The website also shows dates for “Leader’s Dinners” in Edmonton and Calgary on March 7 and 22.

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