Reid rolls to nomination win in Livingstone-Macleod
the winner - Claresholm native Roger Reid won the United Conservative Party of Alberta nomination in the riding of Livingstone-Macleod last week. Balloting was held on Dec. 7 and 8, with voting in Claresholm on Friday, Dec. 7. Reid took 55 per cent of the vote, which translates to 481 out of 873 votes, to win the contest on the first ballot. Nathan Neudorf was second with 225 votes, and Thomas Schneider was third with 167 votes. Here, Reid takes a moment to cast his own ballot in downtown Claresholm on a chilly Friday night. No provincial general election date has been set, but expectations are for a spring vote. Photo by Rob Vogt
By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
Claresholm’s native son will carry the banner of the United Conservative Party into the next provincial election.
Roger Reid, who was born and raised in Claresholm, and co-owns the Tim Horton’s franchises in Claresholm and Nanton with his wife Darleen, won the nomination on the first ballot, garnering about 55 per cent of the vote.
“I was ecstatic that I won on the first ballot,” Reid said. “It was fantastic to see that much support from the riding.”
A total of 873 ballots were cast by party members.
Reid earned 483 votes, followed by Nathan Neudorf who had 225 votes, and Thomas Schneider who had 167 votes.
It was the culmination of two solid days of voting.
The first poll was in Fort Macleod on Friday afternoon, Dec. 7, followed by a poll in downtown Claresholm Friday night.
Reid said those two polls alone had already secured about 500 ballots from party members.
Polling resumed on Saturday, Dec. 8, starting in the Crowsnest Pass, then moving to Pincher Creek, Nanton, and winding up with the final poll in High River, which closed at 9 p.m.
It was about 9:40 p.m. when Reid was notified he had secured enough votes on the first ballot to be declared the winner.
“I am buoyed by the overwhelming support,” Reid said. “It affirms I’m taking the right steps in the right direction.”
He noted people are highly engaged, and the grassroots is motivated to get involved.
Moving forward, Reid said he will keep on doing what he has been doing the past seven months or so.
“We’re going to continue to get out into the riding,” Reid said, adding he has some meetings and fundraising events planned as well.
He also expects to be notified of an upcoming candidates retreat. The United Conservative Party has been hosting these retreats every few months as more candidates are nominated.
However, his top priority is the Livingstone-Macleod constituency.
“For me, the job continues,” he said. “We’re working toward the spring election.”
There are only so many days before the writ is dropped and Reid wants to make every day count.
“We want to get out to different communities and meet more people,” he said.