The March 3 Alberta election features a rematch of the tightest race from 2004.
Liberal Chris Kibermanis lost the 2004 election in Edmonton-Castle Downs by three votes to Progressive Conservative Thomas Lukaszuk after a series of recounts and court challenges that dragged on for more than two months following the Nov. 22 vote.
Liberal Chris Kibermanis lost the 2004 election in Edmonton-Castle Downs by three votes once all the recounts were done.
Lukaszuk was declared the winner by the Alberta Court of Appeal on Feb. 2.
"We win three recounts and then lose the fourth.… It was a bit of a shot in the stomach," said Kibermanis. But the loss also convinced him to spend the next four years getting ready for this election.
"We decided that we were definitely going to get another shot, work hard between the elections and give ourselves a good chance," he said.
The northwest Edmonton riding is one of the fastest growing in the province, with more than 1,000 new homes since the last election, and a large population of newcomers from Asia, Europe and Africa.
Lukaszuk has represented the riding since 2001.
He has been accused by NDP candidate Ali Haymour of trying to buy ethnic votes by promising funding for community projects.
Lukaszuk says he's just doing his job.
Conservative Thomas Lukaszuk has represented Edmonton-Castle Downs since 2001.
"I am their voice in the legislature. When the Muslim community comes to me and says, Thomas, we need a playground … if I find that reasonable I'll work on it. Am I promising things to ethnic communities? Definitely, Shamelessly. They are constituents," he said.
But the idea of a candidate being able to attract blocks of voters from ethnic communities doesn't ring true, said Joe Hak, a prominent Edmonton businessmen and a member of city's Lebanese community.
"That was history, the days before now," said Hak.
"In the old days when people had just arrived in Canada … they felt loyalty to those leaders who helped them get established. [Now] you need to appeal to each voter individually."
There are other factors that are likely to affect the race in Edmonton-Castle Downs this time. Political observers say the departure of former premier Ralph Klein, with his falling popularity, could buoy the fortunes of many Tory candidates.
And in 2004, the Alberta Alliance Party and the Social Credit received a total of 664 votes. But with only the Tories, Liberals, NPD and Green Party, represented by Bob Rechow, in the race this time, observers say Lukaszuk will face no competition for the "fiscal conservative" vote.
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Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
