LETHBRIDGE – “We are ready for this and Lethbridge is ready for change.”
Cheryl Meheden is running for the NDP in the 2015 federal election. She says she plans to use every opportunity to get to know constituents and hear what they have to say.
Global News reporter Quinn Campbell asked Meheden a few questions we thought voters would like to know. Below is a transcript of the interview edited for brevity.
Quinn Campbell: What is your message to voters?
Cheryl Meheden: The main message we are getting out to Lethbridge is that they need good representation in Ottawa. They need a candidate to represent them who has experience, education and skills that can have them be heard. Secondary to that, the conservative government has let us down.
QC: What is your background?
CM: I’m a small business owner in Lethbridge. I’m the founder of Urban Grocer. I’m also an educator; I teach in the School of Business at Lethbridge College and have also taught in the Faculty of Management at the University of Lethbridge. I’ve attended the U of L along with other educational institutions with varying degrees because I like to think I’m a lifelong learner. I’ve been involved in the community for decades as a volunteer in many different areas.
QC: Where is home?
CM: Home is off the farm. So I grew up in rural Alberta, near Medicine Hat, and I’ve lived in Lethbridge almost 30 years.
QC: What’s your campaign plan?
CM: Our plan for our campaign is we are always about the ground game, which means getting out and actually meeting voters. We do a lot of door knocking in person, communicating with people, listening to what they have to say. And when you talk to enough people, you start to hear the same things over and over, and then those issues percolate to the top and you know that they are important.
QC: What are a few key things you plan to focus on?
CM: Some key issues for us here in Lethbridge have to do with good jobs and the economy. There is lots of valid reporting out there from many places such as the CIBC, who’ve told us that job growth in this country has been poor. So part-time work, entry-level work, low-skilled work…so that is a concern. Lethbridge has incredible opportunity with agri-business and we can grow good jobs out of that, so I would like to consider that as well as other economic indicators. We are close to the border so that gives us some opportunity for trade, however when the dollar is almost 30 per cent lower, that makes it quite difficult.
QC: Is this your first experience with politics?
CM: This is not my first experience with politics. This is my first experience as a federal candidate, but I have sat on numerous boards and through all types of governance exercises, so I am well familiar.
Meheden can be reached at:
Campaign office: 918 3 Ave. South
Email/website: Cherylmeheden.ndp.ca
Phone: 403-328-5732
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