Pipestone Flyer
Vol 15. Issue 7, Leduc - Wetaskiwin Pipestone Flyer
“I felt that I had an opportunity here to make sure that the time I am contributing in public life is going to be useful.”
After months of great speculation, rumors and debate, there are now two people confirmed to run for the nomination of the PC Party for the Leduc constituency.
Of course everyone knows the first candidate, current MLA George Rogers, and now the second candidate to officially throw his hat into the ring is City of Leduc Alderman, Dominic Mishio.
In an interview Feb. 14 with the Leduc-Wetaskiwin Pipestone Flyer, Mishio said he gave the idea of running for the nomination a lot of thought over Christmas.
“Over the Christmas holidays I had a large discussion with a bunch of my mentors and kind of consulted some books and got some relaxing time to just contemplate over a few things. And one of the clear messages, was make sure that you make the most of all the time you spend in public office.” said Mishio. “I felt that I had an opportunity here to make sure that the time I am contributing in public life is going to be useful.”
He said earlier in the year there was a lot of speculation around a lot of the Premiers senior cabinet ministers and close friends considering retirement, “so I thought you know what, this might be an opportunity to lend a hand in creating the new vision.”
“The Premier had already called me in to his office a few months earlier to have that discussion about what that vision will be, so I thought there was an opportunity to really bring that forward.”
When asked if he had any trepidation about taking on the current MLA who is in his second term, Mishio was clear to point out that his campaign is going to be about issues not personality.
“I am trying not to make this about personality, but about new policy, new vision, and making sure that we have a discussion about where Alberta is going and I thought this would be a good vehicle to do that.”
It also complicated things because of his friendship with Mr. Rogers.
“Mr. Rogers was one of the first people who knew I was interested in politics and helped me to get involved, and I did have to personally have a conversation with him to let him know I was going to be challenging him. He understood the process and he wished me well. The big thing is I am not making this about personality,” he said.
Misdo added that because they both respect each other it “will create better debate.”
According to Mishio's website, he was first elected as an Alderman in 2007 “becoming the youngest elected to office in the City of Leduc's history. From 2007 to 2010, he served as the Province of Alberta's youngest elected official. He has since been re-elected to a second term.”
Misho said he has also been approached to run for other parties, including the Wildrose and Alberta Party; who are both recruiting young people, especially those involved in municipal politics, but he considers himself a Progressive Conservative.
“I am a Progressive Conservative, I have been one for my whole political life, and I still think there is an opportunity to create change within this party to get onto a new vision. I am hoping we can get onto that new vision and start moving things forward,” he said. “A lot of people were surprised to find out I am going the Progressive Conservative route.”
He also added that there was nothing that really attracted him to the Wildrose Party.
There has been no official word on when the vote will take place but Misho said it might happen in May or September depending on what happens with the upcoming PC leadership race.