Alberta election: NDP pushing to win former Liberal stronghold Gold Bar

Marlin Schmidt came within 865 votes of winning Edmonton-Gold Bar in the 2012 election

Since then, the NDP candidate has been working to get his message out in the east-Edmonton constituency. He thinks people are ready for the NDP this time around.

"People are really responding to our message of fair taxes and protecting public services," he said while door-knocking in the Kenilworth neighbourhood last week.

"They're tired of 44 years of PC mismanagement and they're ready to try something new."

One woman told Schmidt, a geologist with the Alberta government, that she will vote NDP for the first time on May 5.

"It think it's time, right?"

"I notice the whole neighbourhood is doing the same thing," she said, referring to the orange NDP signs on her neighbours' lawns.

Indeed, Schmidt appears to be winning the "sign war" in this neighbourhood. He said the exposure helps, as it gives people "permission" to vote for his party.

"I think the hardest part about the New Democrats, historically, is that people know we're a party that aligns with their values," he explained, "but they never used to think we had a chance of winning. That's what's shifted this time around."

The party is also providing Schmidt with some high-powered support. Lou Arab, husband of NDP leader Rachel Notley, is managing his campaign.

Dorward on the doorsteps

In 2012, Edmonton Gold-Bar elected Progressive Conservative David Dorward, a chartered accountant who ran unsuccessfully against Stephen Mandel in the 2010 mayoral race.

On another night last week, Dorward campaigned in the Ottewell neighbourhood. He walked briskly from door to door, pounding in signs when he got a homeowner's consent.

Some people werereceptive. Terri Maydonik told him she hasalways voted Conservative and will support him again.

"Do you have any comments on the budget?" Doward asked.

"I'm afraid if we don't have a clear mandate that the other guys will start spending money just to make points," Maydonik replied. "I don't like the idea of that."

"Well, that's part of it ...trying to get the balance right between public spending and the amount we're bringing in," Dorward said.

Earlier in the evening, Dorward got an earful from Brian Game. The Ottewell resident lambasted the Tories for a budget he thinksputs a greater burden on the middle class, while lettingcorporations and wealthierAlbertans off the hook.

Game told CBC he thinks the PCs no longer act in the best interests of Albertans, because they are motivated solely by a desire to stay in power.

"They've had 40 years to fix things, and they keep saying, we'll fix it this time, we'll fix it this time, and they haven't fixed it," he said. He plans to vote for the NDP.

Schmidt also faced the occasional challenge at the doors. Colin Coros told him Alberta needs a change but he wasn't convinced the NDP was the best option.

"I definitely believe in social issues, [I] want to have that in the province," he said. "But the fear is, if the NDP got in power, there would be too much social, not enough economic considerations."

Long-time Liberal riding

The 2012 election marked the first time a Tory had been elected in Gold Bar in 26 years.

When popular Liberal MLA Hugh MacDonald decided not to run again, Josipa Petrunic ran in his place. She placed a strong third, winning 4,078 votes, to Dorward's 6,701.

The collapse of the Liberal party is giving Schmidt hope those voters will turn to him. But Liberal candidate Ronald Brochuthinks he has a chance in Gold Bar.

Polls suggestthe NDP may do well in Edmonton on election night. But Brochuthinks there aremany undecided voters in Gold Bar, as well as people who voted Liberal in the past.

"I think there is a lot of soft NDP people," he said.

Two other candidates are on the ballot in the constituency.

Cristina Stasia, a faculty lecturer at the University of Alberta, is running for the Alberta Party. Justin James, an IT systems manager for the Wildrose, is the party's candidate in Gold Bar.

As for Dorward, he is determined to win a second term and hasn't letthe polls bring him down.

"I really don't pay much attention to the newscasts and social media,"he said. "I'm more focused on what I'm doing, and I think that's the best thing to do... until May 5."