EDITOR;
I am writing this letter to the editor in response to what can only be described as the outstanding news of the election/nomination of Pat Shimbashi as the P.C. candidate for our riding. While I have often been approached over the last number of years to provide support and endorsement for various political candidates in our riding, I simply have not been willing to do so as a result of what I viewed as the anemic representation of Taber and area interests. Thankfully, this has now changed.
I have lived/worked in this riding for the last 12 years, and have always found it far more than odd that an area of the riding that has such a large proportion of the population, financial interests, industry and commerce has gone so long without a representative. Far more concerning to me was the fact that one of the richest areas in the province, which had a representative from the governing party, was never awarded any type of ministerial position or actual position of influence within the government.
It has seemed to me that Taber and area was constantly passed over. Despite what should and could have been our influence in the province, we were sentenced to languish in the back benches or, for one term, in the non-existent opposition.
Of greater concern to me was what I viewed as the ill advised, outlandish and flabbergasting statements of our P.C. MLA directed against the newly elected P.C. premier of the province in our local newspaper. Upon reading these comments, coupled with his "after-the-fact transparent scrambling" to attempt to remove his foot from his mouth, I came to the personal decision it was time for us to have a new voice in Edmonton. Thankfully, with Mr. Shimbashi, we have that opportunity.
I have personally known and worked with Mr. Shimbashi consistently over the last 12 years. I know him to be a man who has our area as his primary concern. I know from both a personal and professional basis of his invaluable contributions to bring the area’s largest employer and value-added agricultural corporation to this riding. His efforts can not be overstated in  facilitating the creation of over 200 jobs to the area as well as contributing to the ongoing prosperity of area farmers.  
As importantly, I have known him to be the "go-to guy" when you need something done with the government — despite the fact he was not even our elected representative. I have absolutely every confidence Mr. Shimbashi will be an untiring advocate for our area. He is an individual who really understands an MLA is there to help his constituents and to get whatever benefit is available for his riding. I have no doubt the entire riding will benefit tremendously from Mr. Shimbashi’s involvement. If there is one thing that I am 100-per-cent confident about with Mr. Shimbashi, it is that he simply will get things done for this riding.
Lastly, our new premier, Allison Redford, is a law school classmate of mine (“the fighting Huskies of 88”!) whom I knew personally. I knew her to be a person of the highest ideals, energy and integrity. I fondly remember many spirited law school debates and discussions with her. Even though more often than not we were on different sides of the argument, she approached every such discussion with an open mind and quick wit that was only matched by her passion and high intelligence.
Unlike our soon to be “previous MLA,” I am ecstatic Ms. Redford is our new premier, and have no doubt our province is in excellent hands as we move into a difficult future. It is often said that “the smartest person in the room should be the leader” — I can state from personal experience that we finally have that leader.
I can unequivocally say with the introduction of Mr. Shimbashi and Premier Redford, I am excited about politics for the first time in a long time. I look forward to being an active participant in our great democracy and I am excited about our future. I see tremendous opportunity not only for our riding, but for our province.
Congratulations and my highest endorsement for both Pat Shimbashi and Premier Redford.

DOUGLAS P. CARLE
Taber