Kevin Smook seeking Alberta Party nomination for Camrose riding
Kevin Smook, a local businessman based out of Tofield and a Beaver County councillor, is seeking Alberta Party nomination for the Camrose riding in the next provincial election.
“This is more about me encouraging people to vote for me to represent them with the Alberta Party,” said Smook. “It’s not so much about the party yet, because I don’t represent them.”
Smook elaborated on his decision and explained, “I share many values that the Alberta Party would have and that’s why I am attracted to them. I see them as a party open to everybody, from all walks of life, no matter what . . . they’re very inclusive.”
After attending several of their events while serving as the first vice-president of Alberta Party in the ‘transitional riding association’, Smook came to the decision.
“When I walk into their events, I see a cross-section of people, from all corners of the province and all aspects of life, so that I find very encouraging,” Smook added. “I find in my discussions with them very positive, solution-based politics. Meaning if something is considered a bad policy, well, rather than slamming them, come up with a better solution.”
Believing in the school of thought where you don’t need to blow out someone else’s candle to let your own light shine, Smook feels that one should stand on their own merit and come up with a legitimate option for people, and that’s what he thinks the Alberta Party is, a legitimate option for people.
“It’s for people who are looking for a political home that’s neither left nor right, but somewhere in the middle,” Smook stated.
After seeing what’s occurred in provincial politics and the direction that the Official Opposition has chosen to go, Smook doesn’t want to follow them there, and he also doesn’t want to follow the government of the day.
“I think there needs to be a legitimate option for people who believe in strong social values, but also good fiscal responsibility and I see that more along the lines of where the Alberta Party is more so than others,” Smook emphasized. “There’s been a change in politics provincially over the last year and a half, and it encourages me to find a party that I can identify with.”
Speaking about some of the issues that he would like to address in the riding if he were to be nominated, Smook said, “The riding has the City of Camrose with 19,400 people approximately, but the outlying areas are largely rural, and Camrose is a strong farming and agricultural community. I’d like to see more value-added agriculture.”
Read more in the September 12 edition – still on newsstands and available at The Weekly Review office. Come in during office hours, call 780-336-3422, or email ads@weeklyreview.ca
Moush John
Staff Reporter
