Rob Anders makes bid for new rural riding of Bow River

Calgary Conservative MP Rob Anders is seeking his partys nomination in the new rural riding of Bow River ahead of next years federal election, he announced Friday.

Anders, the longtime MP for Calgary West,lost the nomination battle for the new riding of Calgary Signal Hillin April to former Alberta finance minister Ron Liepert.

So he's throwing his hat in the ring for another new constituency, Bow River, whichcovers a large swath of southernAlberta east of Calgary including Strathmore, Brooks, Taber and Vauxhall.

• Ron Liepert defeats Rob Anders in Calgary Signal Hill Tory nomination
• Rob Anders' campaign making impersonating calls, claims competitor Ron Liepert
• Rob Anders says 'temporary Tories' hijacking nomination battle

Anders shares the values of the people who live in Bow River, said a campaign press release on Friday.

Rob Anders is a movement conservative known for his strong stands and conservative voting record. He has fought hard over the years for property rights, low taxes, gun rights and traditional family values, the release said.

The six-term backbencher characterized his failed bid for Calgary Signal Hill as a battle for the soul of his party, accusing Lieperts team of recruiting temporary Tories to defeat him.

Alberta gained six new ridings in a recent redrawing of the federal electoral map, and willnow have 34 electoral districts in next year's election.