Banff-Cochrane residents elected its first NDP MLA on May 5, dismantling the Progressive Conservative (PC) bastion that had been in place in the riding since 1971.
Banff-Cochrane residents elected its first NDP MLA on May 5, dismantling the Progressive Conservative (PC) bastion that had been in place in the riding since 1971.
Cam Westhead, a Bragg Creek resident and registered nurse, dethroned PC incumbent Ron Casey, with 8,428 votes. Wildrose's Scott Wagner, a local Cochrane business owner, came in second with 5,653 and the former Canmore mayor Casey trailed closely in third at 5,534.
“We based our campaign on hope and optimism and positive engagement. People really felt the platform resonating with their values,” Westhead said.
Westhead's election is part of the NDP's surge across the province, which saw the party form a majority government with 53 seats out of 87 ridings.
The MLA-elect said his election is a clear sign the riding's residents are focused on “investing in our future; supporting and securing our education system and our health care system, and ensuring fairness and open and honest government.”
Westhead said flood mitigation remains the top issue for many constituents, with several people still waiting for claims to be completed and no longer able to stay in temporary housing.
“I know there's so many issues, but flooding can be a life or death issue.”
He concedes, while flood mitigation measures are planned for Bragg Creek, he needs to get up-to-speed on the portfolio.
For Cochrane residents, Westhead said schools were a priority.
“I know that there's some schools opening in Cochrane, but they're going to be opening at capacity.”
He said hiring more teachers and planning to build more schools loom on the horizon.
“If we're opening at capacity, we need to make sure we're planning ahead for the growth that we're going to see in Cochrane.”
Other items he'll focus on will be safety issues around Highway 1A and Highway 22, and more generally, fixing the economy, job growth and “enhancing our health care and education system.”
Westhead said one of his main challenges during the campaign was managing the large number of volunteers.
“We had a hard time keeping up with their offers to work on the campaign. We were kind of caught off guard.”
But he credits their hard work for making his election possible.
“This isn't something I did by myself.”
Westhead said his wife has been fully supportive throughout his campaign.
“She knew what we were getting into when it got started and she's been helping me out along the way. We're very excited to start this journey together.”
Although he hasn't spoken with party leader Rachel Notley yet, Westhead said he's waiting on a conference call with the premier-elect to brief him on the party's transition to government.
He hopes to end the perception of insider perks within the office, referring to the NDP's promise to end corporate and union donations.
“Politics should be about the issues, not about how much money you can spend or how many friends you've got.”
Despite campaigning in a solidly PC riding since the early ‘70s, he summed up his journey in one word - hopeful.
“I feel very humbled and honoured by this. I'd like to thank the people of Banff-Cochrane who put their trust in me to take this on. And I'm going to work hard every day to earn that trust.”
