GILLIAN SLADE
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The Progressive Conservative nomination process to find a candidate for the riding of Medicine Hat closed on Friday at 5 p.m. with four nominees to replace MLA Rob Renner who after 19 years decided he will not stand for re-election again.
Linda Rossler was the first to toss her hat into the ring. She resigned from her position as president of the Medicine Hat Progressive Conservative Constituency Association in order to declare her nomination and is a retired School District No.76 superintendent.
Darren Hirsch born and raised in Medicine Hat, was a city alderman from 2004 - 2007, and is currently a commercial analyst with TD Bank.
Businessman Dan Hein is known most recently for having run MP LeVar Payne's election campaign.
Medicine Hat defense lawyer Ian Baird is the most recent nominee.
A vote, by current PC party members, will take place to determine the successful candidate on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Higdon Hall, Stampede Grounds at 10 a.m.
The Wildrose party made an official announcement on Friday that Blake Pedersen, the only nominee for the Medicine Hat riding, is their candidate who will run against the successful PC candidate. Pedersen is a Redcliff businessman with a background in farming and entrepreneurship.
Drew Barnes the candidate for Medicine Hat Cypress was selected in 2010 and will run in the next election against MLA Len Mitzel. Barnes has lived in Medicine Hat since 1974 and enjoyed a successful career in real estate for more than 25 years.
The Alberta Liberal party does not have a candidate in this region at present but on Friday Liberal leader Dr. Raj Sherman said within a month
they will have a candidate in place.
In August Dennis Perrier was elected the New Democratic Party candidate for Medicine Hat.