Steve Durrell wants to take a second shot at winning the Airdrie-Cochrane riding for the Alberta NDP in the next provincial election.

Durrell has announced his intention of seeking the nomination. As of yet, the date of the nomination meeting hasn't been determined.

"What it really comes down to is the fact that I'm a parent and I'm looking at the direction the province is headed and the type of province that I want them to grow up in. I'd like to see that direction change a little bit so they're growing up in a province that has a government that cares about having a healthy education system, a healthy health care system, ones that are supported and are functional and can provide the services my kids and Albertans are going to need."

Since the April 2019 election, he's been keeping pace with the issues, listening to the concerns of constituents, and occasionally voicing his views.

Constituents have raised concerns about vandalism against the LGBTQ+ community in both Cochrane and Airdrie, EMS red alerts, and, specifically in Cochrane, frustration over the lack of a start date for the Hwy. 1A-22 interchange project.

"The biggest thing is that people are disappointed in how the pandemic has been handled and that we're seeing a government that's focused heavily on its internal conflicts rather than dealing with a crisis situation in the province and worldwide."

He believes an NDP government would bring a positive view on the future. It would focus on having a health care system that's effective at fighting back against COVID, would diversify the economy, provide a better EMS system, and provide an education curriculum that's written by experts, not extremists.

"Those are values that I think our province should be seeing reflected in our government, and I think it's the values that Albertans have as well."

UCP candidate Peter Guthrie scored a convincing win in the April 2019 election in the newly created Airdrie-Cochrane constituency. He received 66 per cent of the vote, compared to Durrell's 25 per cent. The Alberta Party was a distant third with six per cent.

The next provincial election is expected to be held in the spring of 2023.