This evening (October 2) will be your opportunity to hear and compare notes of the four UCP candidates hoping to be named the Party's representative for the Airdrie-Cochrane riding.

It has been a long road for the four nominees who started campaigning as early as January this year. With United Conservative Party members hitting the polls in less than three weeks, tonight's forum will be a great opportunity for constituency members to hear from Cochrane nominee's Laura Talsma, Peter Guthrie, Morgan Nagel, and Airdrie's Mauri Stiff.

Russell Kossowan, President of the Airdrie-Cochrane United Conservative Party Constituency Association says this evening will not be set up as a debate per se but as a forum. "Basically the format will be a moderator asking each of the nomination contestants a series of questions and they'll have someplace between 90 seconds and two minutes to answer each question. They aren't going to be going back and forth but an opportunity for constituency members to get an understanding of what each one's beliefs are and what they stand for."

If Kossowan were to give advice to the four contestants running, he shares he would be prepared to discuss all topics "I would want to say think about education. healthcare, infrastructure, and the economy."

This is the only forum planned for Cochrane with a second one occurring in Airdrie on Thursday evening (October 4) at the Town and Country Centre, with no more being planned. "We don't plan on it at this point in time. It is my belief there will be only two as I don't think we have time to organize more. It is hard to get venues and it can be costly."

The Airdrie-Cochrane riding currently has 3400 card-carrying members which it makes one of the larger UCP supported ridings. "People are interested and people are buying their memberships to have their say in this nomination race; this nomination race is important."

UCP members will have two locations and two dates to vote. "On October 18th, the Golden Rod Hall just west of Airdrie will be the polling station and will be open from noon until 8 pm. On Saturday the 20th polling in Cochrane will be at the Cochrane Ranche House from 9 until 5. After the polls close at 5, we will be doing the vote count and we will know who our candidate will be."

There is no proxy voting, but you can vote at either polling centre as long as you are part of the Airdrie-Cochrane riding and a UCP member.

Kossowan says many ridings have seen roughly a 50% voter turn out but he believes our riding will be significantly higher.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm tonight at the Cochrane Lions Event Centre with the forum getting underway at 7 bells and anticipated to run until 9 o'clock.