Regina Qu'Appelle Valley - Steve Ryan Nominated as NDP Candidate

Another of the NDP's noteworthy nomination contests came to a conclusion last night, as Steve Ryan won the race to serve as the party's candidate in Regina Qu'Appelle Valley. By all indications, Ryan ran an extremely strong nomination campaign - and he'll now have a full year's head start before next year's election to win votes back into the NDP's column in what was one of the province's closest ridings in 2007.

The nomination leaves Regina Wascana Plains as the lone constituency in Saskatchewan's capital without a nominated NDP candidate for 2011. And while the 2007 results may make the seat seem like a long shot, Doreen Hamilton managed to win it in each of the four previous elections - which should make it worth keeping an eye on who decides to pursue the nomination.

Regina Qu'Appelle Valley - Tracy Rogoza Seeking NDP Nomination

The NDP's nomination race in Regina Qu'Appelle Valley now has a second entrant: Tracy Rogoza, an insurance broker with a strong background in swimming and volunteer work - as well as some key family connections as the daughter of longtime Regina mayor Doug Archer.

Between Rogoza and Steve Ryan (who has launched a website of his own), the NDP boasts two strong young candidates who should each have an excellent chance to topple the Sask Party's Laura Ross in a riding which was home to one of the province's closest races in 2007. Which means that whether or not any more contenders throw their hat into the ring in the Regina Qu'Appelle Valley, this should be a nomination contest to watch.

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.