Local historian and political hopeful Michael Dawe has officially received an endorsement from the Liberal Party during a recent nomination meeting.
“I went and offered myself as a candidate, and they unanimously nominated me. That’s part of a process, though because I have been trying to build a coalition of people, with a more positive message for the upcoming provincial election. I am officially referring to myself as a Liberal-Independent,’ Dawe said.
“There are other groups and parties that I am approaching for endorsement, and one will be the Green Party among others.”
Dawe said he believes there is a lot of cynicism in the province when people regard politics. He said that his decision to seek endorsement from multiple parties is based on his idea that the people of the province are looking for something a little bit different to re-engage them.
“I think that we really have to start being more accountable and more in tune with what the people in the riding are thinking, and not what a small group of party elite are saying. I think that’s just turning a lot of people off politics, and they just don’t want to vote,” he said.
“People ask me what I’m running for: I am running for the MLA of Red Deer North. There are laws to follow under the Alberta Elections act and I am going to follow those, but I think we need out-of-the-box thinking. There was a really broad cross-section of people at the nomination meeting so I’m hoping that means people are focusing on the riding itself.”
According to the Michael Dawe for Red Deer North facebook page, Dawe’s platform includes issues such as accountability and a willingness to address a recall if voters were seeking such action after electing Dawe.
“What I am promising to do is to sign a legal document saying that if after I am elected, I do something that offends the majority of people of Red Deer North – not just a small, vocal group – and they want to challenge me, I am willing to be subject to recall. If the majority signed a petition challenging my position as MLA, I would be accountable. I would be accountable not only before an election, but after the election and that’s not a law in Alberta, but I think it should be,” he said.
Dawe said his bottom line was to bring back faith in local and provincial politics by maintaining accountability and trying to bring together various political ideologies.
kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com
