Regina Qu'Appelle Valley - Steve Ryan Seeking NDP Nomination

I've been wondering for quite some time how long it would be before a nomination race started up in Regina Qu'Appelle Valley, which was the NDP's closest Regina loss in 2007. Now James Wood has the answer, as Steve Ryan has put his name forward:

Steve Ryan, a former University of Regina Rams football player and brother of Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, announced this week he would run for the party's nomination in Regina Qu'Appelle Valley.

Ryan was drafted by the NDP to run in Wood River in 2007 after the party's original candidate dropped out. He lost to long-time Sask. Party MLA Yogi Huyghebaert.

While Ryan's 2007 result isn't exactly one he'll want to point to (as he received the lowest vote total of any NDP candidate in the province), it's certainly to his credit that he was willing to put his name on the ballot. And he's had some public involvement in the meantime as well which bodes well for his dedication to the NDP's efforts.

Of course, it'll be a surprise if there aren't more candidates yet to come. But Ryan's entry in the race should help push them to make up their minds as well - so we should have another strong nomination contest heating up just as the current ones in Regina South and Regina Coronation Park come to a close next week.