Highwood candidates Danielle Smith and John Barlow will go head to head for the first time on April 10 in Okotoks.
The Okotoks Chamber of Commerce has organized a forum for all Highwood candidates at the Foothills Centennial Centre, but all eyes and ears will likely be on PC candidate John Barlow and Wildrose leader and Highwood MLA hopeful Danielle Smith.
Chamber president Cheryl Actemichuk is organizing the forum and said they have booked a room for 600 people, knowing that the event could draw a large crowd.
“ People will be interested in where the candidates stand,” Actemichuk said.
With the Wildrose trying to make inroads in the Province a real fight for the position is shaping up in the Highwood, where Smith could solidify her party's relevance by landing a seat and attaining official party leader status.
“ This area has been predominantly PC,” Actemichuk said. “ I also know that for some people its not about the candidate, its about wanting change.”
She expects the forum could draw people in from outlying communities who are interested in what is happening in Highwood, but said there is no way to predict how many people will attend.
“ I hope there is interest from other people outside the riding,” she said. “ We want to get people involved in the democratic process.”
Barlow said he expects the forum will draw a large crowd.
“ I think it'll be a pretty hot ticket,” he said. “ There are a lot of people who are interested with the Highwood in the spotlight.”
There are a number of local issues Barlow hopes to address.
“ I expect a mix of local and provincial issues will come up,” he said. “ Things like water, education, growth, healthcare. The flood plan also may come up.”
Going up against Smith one on one is not intimidating, Barlow said.
“ I've been through forums through the nomination and I've been to dozens as a journalist,” he said. “ People go there to weigh the candidates and their platforms and ideas.”
Although the Wildrose have been garnering a lot of attention, he is not deterred.
“ It has been a fait accompli in Highwood in the past, there is definitely a challenge here and we will answer that challenge.”
Smith said she looks forward to meeting more Highwood constituents at the forum and discussing the platforms her party has been rolling out almost daily over the past week.
“ We've got a fantastic platform and most of them will be out by then,” she said. “ We have a positive message we want to share.”
Smith said she is not interested in solving local issues, such as the water shortage in Okotoks, for municipalities. She said if elected the Wildrose will work with local government to achieve their goals.
“ Whatever they decide I'll be working with them to support it,” she said.
Smith hopes a number of undecided voters will come to hear the Okotoks debate.
“ I hope a number of people who are confused or sitting on the fence or want answers will be there,” she said.
Candidates will respond to a number of questions from a moderator during the two-hour forum and attendees can submit their questions in advance to the chambers e-mail address at okotoks [email protected] by noon on April 9.
Actemichuk said Barlow and Smith have already agreed to be at the forum, but they are still working to confirm if the NDP candidate, Miles Dato, who lives in Medicine Hat, or Liberal candidate Keegan Gibson will be there.
The forum will be held April 10 at the Foothills Centennial Centre from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
