The four-way race to fill the seat vacated by former Member of Parliament for the Macleod (formerly Foothills) riding, Ted Menzies, is underway this November and the candidates are already running.
The M.P. nomination race is on for the area from Cochrane to South Calgary to the U.S. border.
Between a businessman, Associate Editor of the Okotoks Western Wheel newspaper, a rancher/farmer, and a former Parliament Hill staffer.
“I’m going to be all over the riding meeting as many people as possible,” said Melissa Mathieson, candidate for M.P. nomination, during a stop in the Crowsnest Pass area November 12th.
“During the flood, I worked all over the riding- so it’s not something I’m not used to.”
Mathieson has worked as an intern and Parliament Hill staffer with former M.P. Ted Menzies and in the Office of the Prime Minister, she is currently a research associate for the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.
“What I find really important and identify with in this riding is (I think it’s the bedrock of Conservatism), fiscal conservatism.”
“People (in this riding) work really hard for their money and they really believe that governments should spend within their means and keep tight budgets.”
Mathieson also has a keen interest in public policy (which is her professional background).
“An M.P.’s job is to represent every constituent in their riding and bring their concerns to Ottawa,” she said.
“This is something Ted Menzies did and something I want to do.”
The Macleod riding is “hotly contested” (according to Mathieson), because it’s voters typically vote Conservative and there are all Conservative candidates.
Scott Wagner, an entrepreneur who has started four companies, is also a potential Conservative Party nomination candidate.
“The people of Macleod can expect from mer tireless efforts to represent them in Ottawa.”


“Issues such as balanced budgets, efficient delivery of services and getting money to build infrastructure are key aspects of my thought at the moment,” said Wagner.
“I have a strong belief the people of Macleod deserve a candidate that has deep enduring roots throughout the Electoral District and has experience advocating their needs,” said Phil Rowland, a potential candidate for the Macleod Riding.
Mr. Rowland is a former president of the Western Stock Growers Association and served as a board member for the High Wood PC Association when George Groeneveld was M.L.A.
“You can expect me to be accessible, straight forward and engaged in the Macleod riding as I have been in my past roles with associations and committees.”
The final candidate for the Macleod riding is John Barlow, the Associate Editor for the Okotoks Western Wheel newspaper.
Mr. Barlow placed a strong second as the Progressive Conservative candidate behind Wildrose Party Leader in 2012 provincial election for the Highwood constituency.
“I learned a lot during the provincial campaign,” Barlow told reporters with the Western Wheel, “ I developed an invaluable network of contacts and I saw what developed with this municipal election campaign and we have some extremely strong dynamic councils in this area.”