It officially became a three-man race for the Little Bow PC nomination Friday.

At the deadline Coaldale Mayor Kim Craig, County of Lethbridge Deputy Reeve Henry Doeve and local agri-businessman John Kolk were the only three seeking the nomination. Long time MLA for Little Bow, Barry McFarland declined to run for the nomination as he is retiring from provincial politics.
Little Bow PC supporters will vote this week to determine which of the trio will represent the party in the next provincial election seeking to take over McFarland’s seat in the Legislature.
The advance poll will take place this Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Legion in Vulcan and at the Gem of the West Museum in Coaldale.
The regular voting day will be held this Saturday, Jan. 28 from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Community/Seniors Centre in Picture Butte, at the Gem of the West in Coaldale, at the Seniors Drop-In in Vauxhall, at the Legion in Vulcan, at the Lomond Drop-In Centre and at the IOOF Hall in Blackie.
Voters will need to purchase a $5 membership in the PC party to vote and memberships will be available at the door or from candidates and their supporters this week.
Craig said he decided to seek the nomination because he wanted to take his love for community to the provincial level. He wants to put Southern Alberta in the spotlight in Edmonton.
He has been involved in municipal government for over seven years and wanted to take his experience working with every level of government to the provincial level.
Speaking to local issues, he noted agriculture is a major part of the economy across the Little Bow riding. Irrigation, he feels, needs more financial assistance with rehabilitation work which can provide a two-fold benefit to the region.
Storm water management and increasing the efficiency of water works in general will not only benefit the region but the whole province as water is a major resource in Alberta.
Craig said one of the skills he could bring to the job of MLA is relationship building, something he’s been able to do as mayor with surrounding communities and all levels of government. His career, in financial planning, also provides a skill set he can use at the provincial level.
“I have a well rounded work life experience.”
As chairman of the Southern Alberta Energy From Waste Alliance he understands the need to address the issue of handling municipal waste across the province. He said there are close to 60 municipalities and special areas involved in the Alliance and building relationships between them is something he has worked at over the past 18 months as chairman.
Being familiar with this project he said he can bring something to the table at the provincial level on environmental issues.
His work life has also afford him the opportunity to see many areas of the province, working with Albertans in many different sectors of the economy.
“I’ve been around most of the province.”
He said he is also familiar with the Little Bow Riding outside of Coaldale having attended and graduated high school in Vulcan.
He said he agrees with follow candidate Doeve that the infrastructure deficit in the province has to be addressed. He added the province of Alberta doesn’t stop south of Calgary and he would work toward increasing funding for infrastructure and transportation in the region.

“We’re just as deserving of infrastructure funding.”
Craig and his wife, Taralynn, have three adult children and one grandchild with another on the way.
Henry Doeve
Doeve said he has the desire, the skills and the networking ability necessary to represent the Little Bow region in the Legislature.
“I understand rural.”
He said he also likes being in a position to affect change.
“I’ve always liked to be involved.”
He is particularly interested in being a voice for those in the riding and across the province who may not have the means or skills to make their concerns known at the provincial level.
He is now in his second term with the County of Lethbridge Council having served the past three years as deputy reeve.
He said he has actually been involved in a number of organizations behind the scenes that not a lot of people may be aware of. His involvement in municipal governance began over 20 years ago. He served on the county’s appeal board chairing the board for six years.
He said his main focus was to ensure everyone had a fair hearing. He was also appointed to the Alberta Irrigation Council and was part of the process to oversee the distribution of funding for rehabilitation projects. During his time on the council it came up with what he feels is a fair and defensible formula for funding.
He has also served on the Lethbridge College Board of Governors and was part of the committee which hired the current president of the college.
“I’m a rural person, rural minded.”
He would like to see new markets explored for Alberta beef, grain and other products without regulating the province out of competition.
He said small town advocacy is also a big issue for him.
“What they’ve missed,” he said of the Little Bow electorate, “is a true advocate, a true representative in Edmonton.”
One of his concerns in the area of environmental issues is the need to address landfills through changes in legislation.
“We need to find an alternative for landfills.”
“That has to come from the top.”
Overall he said water storage is a big issue in Southern Alberta and in pretty much every community in the Little Bow riding.
With most communities relying on run off from the mountains and with Alberta Environment placing a moratorium on water distribution this issue has to be addressed at the provincial level.
He said access to water impacts the value-added agriculture industry and the provincial government has to make water management a priority.
He also speaks out against the CanAmex corridor which is in the province’s long range plans to provide a more direct access to southern markets.
Doeve said the money earmarked for the project would be better spend elsewhere and taking agricultural land out of production, just to speed up traffic so it can speed past Lethbridge, is not something he is in favour of doing.
He said his track record sets him apart from the other candidates, “getting involved and getting it done.”
As a member of county council he was recently involved in the development of a new inter-municipal development plan with the Town of Coaldale. He said his time with the county’s appeal board helped him develop the objectivity he feels is important for anyone serving as MLA.
He believes in fostering co-operation and working together to make things happen throughout the region.
“Together we move forward.”
He and his wife, Carolyn, have five children and five more by marriage along with 13 grandchildren.
John Kolk
This is the second time Kolk has campaigned for the PC nomination for Little Bow. He challenged McFarland before the last provincial election and came up just shy in the final vote count in what was a two-man race.
He said he really loves the political process and believes being a politician is an honourable calling and legitimate service.
His experience runs deep in both business and agriculture.
He served nine years as a county councillor with the County of Lethbridge serving several years as Deputy Reeve.

“That really whetted my appetite for additional public service.”
He added his decision to seek election at the provincial level is based in the belief that the provincial government has more impact on the day to day lives of Albertans than the federal government.
“The opportunity to effectively improve our opportunities in southern Alberta starts at the provincial level.”
Kolk likes to be engaged in the political process and said being an MLA would also allow him to be close to both the riding and his home.
He said there are a lot of benefits to being only five hours away as opposed to being in Ottawa.
“I can be home when I have to be.”
Over the years he has been involved in policy development at the provincial level in areas such as environment, economic development and agriculture. He said because he’s had this opportunity he’s been able to see how changes in policy impact what happens in the region.
He said Little Bow is a diverse riding and has expanded once again ahead of the next provincial election.
“Affective representation for the whole riding is job number one.”
Within the borders of the riding there is everything from intensive livestock operation and irrigation to dryland, grazing leases and agri-food processing.
He said the diversity of the riding means part of Little Bow includes the trading areas of Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. He added it will take a lot of energy to represent the issues from across the riding in Edmonton.
With the changes in the Alberta PC party in the past few months and with new leadership he said there is a new enthusiasm building in the province. He feels it is important to focus this energy and engage Alberta in a globalized approach.
He said as Alberta becomes more urbanized it is important that the rural values that built Alberta are maintained. He feels he can effectively represent the region and relate to both the urban and rural representatives at the provincial level.
“It doesn’t help to shout because in very short order, nobody is listening.”
He believes in building support through understanding and communicating on the issues that face the province and the various ridings throughout Alberta.
He said it’s important to communicate the local issues so that everyone can be part of the Alberta experience.
“We can no longer take for granted that people will understand the rural issues because we are there.”
“We need to tell our story and tell it well.”
He said rural values are the bedrock of Alberta including concern for neighbours and community while caring for the land and water.
He added affective community structures like schools, churches and community groups need to be incorporated into how the province is governed.
“We’ve got a great story to tell in rural Alberta. We’re the backbone of Alberta so let’s not be shy about it.”
Kolk said he believes he is a good listener and will be able to make good use of his mediation skills as an MLA for Little Bow.
He added he is an affective communicator which can benefit the region both locally and within the governing process in Edmonton.
He said he has also been affective in building alliances in very diverse groups, building win-win solutions to issues in the past.
He said his skill set includes both energy and enthusiasm and he believes his key commitment, to visiting every community at least twice a year, is important in serving as MLA.
“You can’t be a representative without knowing your communities.”
Kolk has been married 30 years to his wife Laura and they have four children and two grandchildren with a third knocking at the door.