Cheryl Seaborn: UCP candidate for Lethbridge-West

I’m somebody who stands for positive change, and Lethbridge-West constituents have clearly indicated to me that they’d like some positive change, so there’s some momentum in that direction. I think it would be wonderful to represent Lethbridge-West in a majority UCP government, which I anticipate happening. It’s time for them to be represented, it’s been a while.

The United Conservative Party represents and stands for the principles that I believe it. They have a wonderful statement of principles, that, if no one’s ever read, I encourage them to do so, most of them having to do with limited government, freedom from taxes, freedom to feel safe in public spaces, the ability to associate with whomever we want to associate with, the belief in families in all their varieties and being able to teach their beliefs to their children. Basically, it’s really a platform of freedom and I stand for those things. I think other people, you know, it’s time that we stand for those things.

Why do you feel that you are the best choice to represent your riding as MLA?

I think, again, I’m going to go back to what I initially stated, you know, I think the people of Lethbridge-West would like to see some positive change. They would like to see someone who’s going to represent all of the constituents there and respond to all of them, and I will do that. It doesn’t matter who you vote for or what your belief system is, I think it’s time now to stop with the divisive politics and to come together and collaborate better. I think there’s more innovation, more ingenuity, as we work together. If I sit in a room with other people that are just like-minded like me, you know, we don’t come up with the best answers, we don’t come up with the best solutions, but when we take people with different belief systems, different perspectives, different lived experiences and you come together, you make the best ideas, you come up with the best solutions for problems. It’s time that we stop playing division and segregation, which have been political realms in Lethbridge-West. I think that the people there want us to not do that anymore, they want to be able to come together and stand for that.

What types of personal or professional experience do you have that would make you a good MLA?

Professionally, I’m a registered nurse. I’ve managed several of the rural hospitals down here in the South Zone, so I certainly have a lot of skills that I’ve brought with me from that, just in how to manage people, how to motivate people, how to collaborate with people, so that’s one aspect of my professional background.

I personally became involved as a volunteer in the political realm, which was scary and exciting at the same time a number of years ago, being the president of the Lethbridge-West UCP Constituency Association Board for several years, and just recently, last year, gave that up for someone else to have a turn. I’ve been able to see a little bit more about how the political world functions and to be a little bit more involved in that, and to understand that people do have concerns about being represented, to understand why people sometimes lose favour or hope in their political leaders, and I want to bring something different to that table, and I want people to know that they don’t need to be [sore], that I’m there to work hard for them, that I’m there to represent all.

What would be your top three priorities if elected?

Healthcare, for sure, is a passion, obviously, of mine. I have not just a frontline knowledge of healthcare, which I think is absolutely pertinent, but I also see behind-the-scenes functioning as well, and some of the things that any organization can always improve, can always do better. I have some of those thoughts about that. We want to see access to healthcare, we want it to be free healthcare for everyone, so that’s an important part for me.

Public safety is another issue, you know, families, individuals, students. I don’t care who you are, we have the right to walk down the street and feel that we’re safe. Businesses need to know they can open up their front door and feel like it’s ok and safe and there’s nobody out there that’s out there to harm people who’s trying to come in, especially those downtown businesses in Lethbridge. We need to be able to really engage with our police forces, with our municipalities, the mayor, and be able to come together and come with a solution to the public safety piece of things.

For sure, one of the biggest things right now is the economy. That is a huge issue and top-of-mind for everyone. I went out to a grocery store the other day, one that’s very affordable, I bought three tomatoes and it cost me $20 for three tomatoes. How do students afford it? How are families affording to pay for their groceries for their kids? We’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg, I’m afraid, with this, and so, we have to do things as a government to mitigate the effects of what’s happening in Ottawa with the Liberal-NDP coalition. We just have to be able to find ways to be able to put money back in the pockets of people and it can’t be through taxation. People cannot afford to have government debt be put at their feet and have to pay for that, we cannot. I’m grateful to belong to a party that agrees with that, that that is something we cannot do. I know that’s top of mind for many people in Lethbridge, and certainly, many people in Lethbridge-West, so we need to alter that course to the best of our ability.

After those three priorities, I need to listen to the people of Lethbridge-West and find out, what is it that’s top of mind for them? What is it that I can do for you as I represent you and I represent you in the legislature?

What else should voters know about you and your campaign?

We want to get to know everyone, so please reach out. I’m on Facebook, I’m on Instagram, my emails are there, my campaign numbers are there. I want to meet you. I’ve had lots of people reach out to me, and I’m going to take the opportunity to be available Wednesdays here in the campaign office [920 2A Avenue North #107] between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.. Please come and see me. Of course, I will be out door-knocking.

Full election coverage: Alberta Votes 2023

by LNN Staff

Cheryl Seaborn: UCP candidate for Lethbridge-West

What's Happening