The contestants are set for the upcoming federal by-election after the Conservative Party voted Athabasca County councilor David Yurdiga as its candidate Saturday.
Yurdiga will carry the Conservative banner in the race to replace former MP Brian Jean, with Liberal Party candidate Kyle Harrietha, New Democratic Party candidate Lori McDaniel and Libertarian Party candidate Tim Moen the other candidates announced so far.
"I was excited," Yurdiga said. "All the hard work my campaign team did and myself, traveling through the riding, we put our best foot forward and we saw the results in the nomination process."
The nomination, which unofficially started when Yurdiga put his name in the ring Feb. 10, ended with three days of voting across the riding, including in Lac La Biche, and a meeting in Fort McMurray that included speeches and a question and answer period.
Yurdiga has represented Grassland on the Athabasca County council since 2007, serving as reeve from 2009-13. He has operated a number of companies in the region, including federal consulting.
When asked about his strength in the nomination campaign, Yurdiga cited a community-minded approach.
"It's about families, and that's what I pushed during my nomination process," he said. "(Talking about the people who have difficulty making ends meet because of the high cost of housing and... transportation, I think that resonated with voters."
The other nominee, Arlan Delisle, is a municipal lawyer from Fort McMurray and former Edson, Alta. councilor. Delisle declined a request for an interview, but congratulated Yurdiga on Twitter.
Congratulations to David Yurdiga on winning the Conservative nomination. Thanks to all who participated.
- Arlan Delisle (@ArlanDelisle) April 27, 2014 The stage is now set for the byelection. The rest of the field includes Harrietha, a former Liberal staffer and general manager for Metis Local 1935 in Fort McMurray, NDP candidate McDaniel, a heavy equipment operator for Suncor and union rep, and Libertarian Tim Moen, a filmmaker and firefighter. McDaniel and Moen took to Twitter Saturday to welcome Yurdiga to the race.
Congrats @DavidYurdiga - looking forward to meeting you :)
- Lori McDaniel (@LoriMcDanielNDP) April 27, 2014 Congratulations @DavidYurdiga on winning the #CPC nomination! I look forward to the race. Sincerely, The Dark Horse. #cdnpoli #ymm
- Tim Moen (@moen_tim) April 27, 2014 "I think the campaign will go well," Yurdiga said. "The by-election will be most likely in June, so right now I've got to concentrate on preparing for the by-election, and it's back on the campaign trail promoting Conservative values."
The by-election must be contested by the end of July, and will likely be the last in Fort McMurray-Athabasca. The riding has been redistributed into Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, which will contain Lac La Biche, and Lakeland, which will contain Athabasca, for the 2015 federal election.
