Independent gives Strathmore voters more options

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

New kid on the block, Andrew Kucy, recently turned several years of deliberation into a stance when he threw his hat into the ring – in the nick of time – to represent the constituents of the Bow River riding.
Kucy, who is joining 12 other hopeful Independent candidates in Alberta, collected his 100 signatures with the aim of providing voters with one more alternative when they make their way to the polls on Oct. 19.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time … and I just keep hearing about all these party politics and the drama and the fact that nothing progressive ever seems to get done,” said Kucy. “I believe that being independent and being outside the party system will allow me to objectively look at any of them and I think people will respect me for that. I wanted to be able to say to each and every person I interact with that I will represent you. I will not be beholden to any other interest besides those of the people who elect me and put me in office.”
The 32-year-old chemical engineer lives in Langdon with his wife, two dogs, two cats and a ferret. While his job in the oil and gas industry requires him to wear many hats and communicate effectively – qualities he expects will be beneficial if elected – the 135 layoffs on his project alone prompted him to take action. In conjunction with the introduction of an NDP government provincially, Kucy made his decision to become the Bow River riding’s seventh candidate.
While his late entrance has posed some challenges, where the other candidates already have name recognition, experience, and longer campaigns, Kucy said he also has many advantages.
“The fact that I will work with all of the parties, sets me apart from, I think, everybody else, and I don’t have to toe the party line,” he said. “I don’t have to believe or follow any of the rhetoric and I can pick and choose the best policies and ideas of any party to support. What’s one more of the same hand up in the air? As an alternative, I can challenge everybody. I can push to make every piece of legislation better.”
Kucy added he is constantly developing and evolving his policies as he interacts with residents in the riding, but feels the economy and the muzzling of scientific research are among the major issues facing Canadians currently.
Despite being up against other candidates with years of political experience who are backed by their parties, Kucy has had his fair share of dealing with issues in his community. After being nominated by members of the Langdon community, he became instrumental in the hamlet’s struggle against their local water company.
“I had never been involved in something like that, when I was asked to take a leadership role,” he said. “People asked me if I would do this for them, and as the process went on I was asked by more and more people to represent them in this issue. I did not attack the company, and I never lowered myself to the level of personal attacks and I was proud of that. I want to highlight that and show people this is how I operate and this is how I will operate. I put my money where my mouth is and I do what I say.”
Now that his signs are confirmed, Kucy will be travelling around the riding making his name known, has created a Twitter and Facebook page, and is working on a website to inform voters on his policy ideas.