Barlow wins Highwood PC nomination
Politics: Provincial election to be held in the spring
A political newcomer will be taking on the leader of the Wildrose Party in the next provincial election, expected this spring.
John Barlow won the Highwood Progressive Conservative nomination in a vote on Saturday evening. The 40-year old Barlow defeated Okotoks coun. Ed Sands and John Hankins, from Calgary Economic Development, in the first ballot Jan. 28, meaning he received more than 50 per cent of the vote.
There were 1,262 votes cast and nine spoiled ballots. Highwood Progressive Conservative constituency representatives declined to release the vote count saying it’s against party policy.
Barlow, the associate publisher of the Okotoks Western Wheel, said it was the hard work of his campaign team that led to the victory.
“We were confident the whole way through,” Barlow said. “We worked hard and we had a great group of people behind us. We could not have done it without them.
“We saw the passion for this community with the great candidates who were out there. It’s very exciting to win.”
Barlow now faces another big challenge in Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith.
“Danielle has a head start on us for sure, but we said all along this is step one and we are not going to focus on step two until we get there,” Barlow said. “Now we are going to work harder on step two.”
Barlow said he believes his familiarity with the Highwood area will be his team’s strength in the election.
He will have the help of Sands.
“John has a terrific learning curve (ahead of him),” Sands said. “It is going to be difficult... He has a political machine that can push him a long ways.”
Sands, an Okotoks chiropractor, said “I can’t imagine why not” when asked if he would support Barlow.
Hankins was not available for comment after the announcement.
Under legislation passed in the fall, a provincial election will be held sometime between March 1 and May 31.
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Comments
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message ID: 334434
Post On: January 30, 2012
Posted by User #: Shawn Buscholl
Posted by IP:
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CONGRATS John!! I knew you could do it!! Good luck in your quest!
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message ID: 334433
Post On: January 29, 2012
Posted by User #: Naydene Lewis
Posted by IP:
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Congratulations John. This new venture will be a real eye opener for you!
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message ID: 334431
Post On: January 29, 2012
Posted by User #: Paul Rockley
Posted by IP:
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Congrats John. Well deserved. Look out Danielle!