By Chris Brown

James Finkbeiner wants UCP’s Cypress-Medicine Hat nomination

Nov 17, 2022 | 4:55 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The first person has stepped forward signalling intent to run for the United Conservative Party nomination in Cypress-Medicine Hat

With Premier Danielle Smith representing the party in Brooks-Medicine Hat, James Finkbeiner says he will seek the nomination in the city’s southern riding.

Finkbeiner grew up in Redcliff and says his entire family is here as well as extended family and in-laws.

He says his focus for the area is on infrastructure, education and health care.

WHAT'S ON

Medicine Hat pride group holding Trans Day of Remembrance event tonight

15h ago

LIVE UPDATES

Road construction, detours and traffic in Medicine Hat

20h ago

WHAT'S ON

Medicine Hat Public Library hosting second annual local authors meet and greet on Saturday

Nov 20, 2024

“There’s been a lot of struggle with health-care down here. I’ve seen it with my own family with my father with my grandmother-in-law having to leave the city for medical treatments, being put on waiting lists for months at a time,” Finkbeiner says. “I can’t sit on the sidelines. I want to get in the game and I want to help, help fix the system.”

On infrastructure, Finkbeiner says he wants to see Highway 3 twinned and the Wild Horse border hours extended, and on education more teacher input on the new curriculum.

Finkbeiner was a member of the former Wild Rose Party and supported its merger with the former PC Party in 2017. He became disillusioned with the new party under Jason Kenney and went to work for the Western Standard before deciding to run in Cypress-Medicine Hat.

Current MLA Drew Barnes was elected in 2019 as a UCP member but has sat as an independent since being kicked out of caucus last year by then-premier Kenney. Barnes’ status for the general election in May is up in the air.

Finkbeiner says if Barnes is welcomed back to the party, he would like to challenge some of his ideas and present his own in an open nomination process.

“I don’t think that the constituents should have to make up his mind on what he’s going to do if he’s going to try to rejoin the party or if he’s going to run. I think that there needs to be a good strong conservative voice down here that’s already running,” Finkbeiner says.

Finkbeiner is still collecting the signatures needed before filing his papers with the party. He says he’ll be hosting events in the area to help grow his support and adds more information can be found on his Facebook page.

Cypress County councillor Robin Kurpjuweit also plans to run for the nomination. No nomination date has been set thus far.