Wildrose shines!

Mario Prusina
Times Editor

 

Strathmore-Brooks proved once again that it is a Wildrose riding.
Derek Fildebrandt, who began his campaign in January, received 8,657 of the 16,469 votes during the May 5 Provincial Election.
The new MLA defeated his next closest competition, Progressive Conservative Molly Douglas by a wide margin, winning 52.57 per cent of the total votes.
“The heavy work is just getting started,” said Fildebrandt during a celebration at his campaign headquarters in Strathmore following the election. “I’m humbled and exhilarated by the opportunity to be the MLA for the people of Strathmore-Brooks. This is a historical election – this is only the fourth time Alberta has ever changed governments. Albertans wanted a change … Albertans did not vote for a democratic socialist government, they voted for a new government (in the NDP), but I believe that the Wildrose Party stands for the values that have made Alberta great and can make us greater in the future.”
The NDP will form the new majority government after collecting 51 of the 87 seats available. The Wildrose will be the official opposition after taking 21 seats. The out going PC party only garnered 10 seats.
“We are going to provide a vigorous and strong official opposition over the next four years,” said Fildebrandt. “I’m going to do my upmost to represent the people of Strathmore-Brooks and to blunt the more extreme ideological excesses of the NDP, which I believe has the potential to cripple the economy of this province.”
Molly Douglass, who was named the PC candidate after the resignation of Jason Hale, received the second most votes in the riding with 4,449.
Despite the result, she was proud to take part in the democratic process.
“It has been such a positive experience getting to work with volunteers and getting to know Strathmore and area residents,” said Douglass. “Although I was not successful in my bid for the MLA’s position, it was a democratic process with seven parties and candidates in the running. What more could a voter ask for? I am proud of our Strathmore-Brooks region and its people, and will continue to be involved at the local level in moving it forward. Congratulations to everyone involved.”