Progressive Conservative party members will have their chance to grill candidates in two local ridings Thursday night.
Both the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock constituency and the St. Albert constituency are hosting candidates' forums as part of their nomination races.
Colin Reichele, president of the St. Albert constituency association said the forum is an important chance for the candidates to connect with local party members.
"In the process we have for nominating our new candidate, this is really the only chance for all the candidates to connect with local members at once," he said.
The forum will be open only to party members, but becoming a party member will be easy at the night of the event.
"You can buy a $5 membership at the door," Reichele said.
The plan is for all the candidates to make opening and closing statements as well as take questions from the floor.
In the St. Albert constituency, school trustee Jacquie Hansen, businessman Steve Khan, former air force pilot Jeff Wedman and 150th committee volunteer Kent La Rose, realtor Mark Cassidy and local school administrator Sleight Anstruther have all joined the race.
Reichle also confirmed that all of those candidates have filed their nomination paperwork. The St. Albert forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the St. Albert Inn.
Rural riding
All five candidates in the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock race will be in Westlock at the moderated forum organized by that area's association, said Anita Kitz, riding association nomination chair and forum organizer.
The confirmed candidates are Morinville Mayor Lloyd Bertschi, Westlock County Coun. Maureen Kubinec, Barrhead's Tim Schultz, Westlock County Coun. Bert Seatter and Westlock Coun. David Truckey.
"Since our constituency is so large, and we have five candidates that are running, we decided to have this forum to allow the PC cardholders in the constituency to meet the candidates," Kitz said.
She declined to speculate on what issues might be important to party members, saying she has endeavoured to maintain an unbiased perspective on the candidates.
The end goal, ultimately, is to have the successful candidate become the area's next MLA, which Kitz said is a good reason for residents to buy memberships and hear the candidates speak.
"If they're interested in our present government, and in what Premier Redford stands for, and if they want to keep supporting the party, they should buy a membership and get involved to see what it's all about," she said.
The forum will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Memorial Hall in Westlock.
