Within the next weeks, Steve Durrell will be officially proclaimed the NDP candidate for the Airdrie-Cochrane and has been gearing up for his views as a political equivalent to the playoff season.

The NDP nomination deadline for the new riding was yesterday and that leaves Durrell as the lone contender. It will become official at the riding association's nomination meeting being held here in Cochrane on Jan. 31 starting at 7 p.m. at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall, 405 1st St. E.

Durrell has already been knocking on doors the last few weeks in preparation for the nomination meeting and is impressed with the response he's received. 

"I’ve been getting a really good vibe," he says. "People are receptive. They’re wanting to talk. This town is incredibly engaged in the political process right now."

"I like to liken election time and the lead up to the rite being dropped as the political equivalent of the playoff season. Everyone is interested, everyone wants to get involved, everyone’s eyes are on the election day.

He's been putting his campaign team together and keeps the door open for anybody else who wishes to step forward to help.

"We’ve got a pretty solid group of people who are regularly going out and doing the doorknocking with me."

Constituency association president Kevin Mathews, who resides in Cochrane, says it's great to have a candidate with local roots step forward.

"He’s someone who has grown up here in Cochrane so it’s nice to have a local that is going to be running in the constituency that is concerned about the whole constituency," says Mathews, "but it’s always nice to have a hometown person as well. He’s very knowledgeable, I’m quite excited to be working with him and I'm sure it’s going to be a very exciting next few months."

Among the guests at the Jan. 31 nomination meeting is current Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead. Durrell is pleased Westhead will be attending and hopes to sit down with Westhead soon to be briefed on his work in the constituency. He praises the work Westhead has done in the constituency.

"We haven't had a  sit down yet, but it's definitely on the books so I can continue the legacy of work he has been doing in the riding. We, as the party, and Cam together have done a fantastic job of representing the area."

With the change in electoral boundaries, current MLA Cam Westhead is the NDP candidate in the newly formed Banff-Kananaskis riding that includes the Ghost Valley area, Bragg Creek, the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, Canmore and Banff.

To vote at the nomination meeting, Durrell says memberships have to be valid by Jan. 17. He encourages members to renew and welcomes new people to join the Alberta NDP. To do so visit the party's website.

Durrell encourages people to come out. You don't need a party membership to attend.

"I’m super excited for that to come forward and I’d love to hear from people who are interested in getting involved as volunteers," says Durrell.

Those interested can phone/text Durrell at 403-804-9872 or email Durrell4NDP@gmail.com.

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Steven Durrell Seeking Airdrie-Cochrane NDP Nomination