Jacquie Hansen, a local school board trustee and president of the Alberta School Boards Association, has become the latest person to add their name to the list of candidates for the St. Albert Progressive Conservative nomination.
Hansen announced this week that she intends to seek the party’s nomination, which is currently held by MLA Ken Allred.
Allred has yet to announce if he will seek the party’s nomination again, but even if he chooses not to run, there will still be four people vying for the party’s nod.
Hansen said Allred has been a team player and obviously has a deep love for the constituency, but she will run regardless of what he decides.
Hansen said Premier Alison Redford’s selection this year was exciting and she believes it marks a positive change for the province.
“I am excited about this direction of the premier, I see real optimism in her, she has a great focus on social policy and that is new for this province.”
In addition to being a school board trustee with the Greater St. Albert Catholic School Board since 2001, for the last four years she has worked with the provincial association as president and vice president.
She is also a government appointed member on the regional Children’s Services Board.
Hansen said meeting with Redford over education funding has shown her that the premier is leading an agenda she wants to support.
“Right away I knew she was a premier that would listen and try and understand,” said Hansen. “She is tackling issues that keep our society well and I really appreciate that direction.”
She said in her provincial role she has obtained a good understanding of some of the major issues, but as a trustee she also understands what is important to St. Albert.
She hopes to lobby for Ray Gibbon Drive funding and for a pedway between Riel and Lois Hole Park. She said she also believes the province can be part of the solution to St. Albert’s struggles attracting industrial development.
“I think we have here an opportunity to have provincial work and municipal work come together and collaborate.”
She said she has an obvious interest in education, but also believes in the importance of funding for seniors’ care and mental health.
“We need to have a hard look at mental health issues. We know that one in five in our schools suffer from mental health issues so it is no longer something we can ignore.”
Hansen said when an election comes she believes she will do well. She believes the party is in a good position to do well and she wants to be a part of that.
“I believe our society now is not necessarily as loyal to the party, as they are to the leader and if there is a strong leader in place who is willing to collaborate and listen to the people, people will vote for what they think is best for the community.”
Hansen joins Steve Khan, Jeff Wedman and Kent La Rose in the race. The Wildrose party has nominated former councillor James Burrows, the Alberta Party businessman Tim Osborne and the NDP will be running Nicole Bowes in the riding.
