Former Lethbridge councillors announce candidacy bids for NDP in Shannon Phillips’ riding

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Two former Lethbridge city councillors have publicly announced they will seek the nomination to replace Shannon Phillips as the Alberta NDP candidate in Lethbridge West.

Bridget Mearns, who ran for mayor in 2021, and Rob Miyashiro, who ran unsuccessfully in Lethbridge East in the 2023 provincial election, both announced their candidacy on Aug. 7.

Party members in the riding who hold membership as of Aug. 23 will determine a candidate with voting on Sept. 7.

Mearns, is the executive director of Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) Lethbridge region. She told the Lethbridge Herald that her main concerns are the United Conservative’s Bill 20 regarding municipalities, as well as health-care reform.

Miyashiro is the executive director of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization. He said pensions and health care were his top issues.

In 2023, he lost to current Lethbridge East MLA Nathan Neudorf in the general election by about 600 votes among 22,000 ballots cast.

Mearns, the daughter of former MLA Briget Pastoor, placed second in the city’s most recent mayoral race, losing by only 500 votes to Blaine Hyggen.

The winner would represent the party in a provincial byelection that has yet to be called by Premier Danielle Smith.

The seat became open July 1 when former cabinet minister Phillips announced she was retiring from politics.

The United Conservatives in the riding opened their nomination process on Aug. 8.