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Switzer to seek federal Tory nomination |
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Written by Sherri Gallant
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Thursday, February 18 2010, 9:56 PM |
Longtime Lethbridge businessman Mark Switzer told a room filled with enthusiastic supporters Thursday he’ll seek the federal conservative nomination after MP Rick Casson steps down.
Switzer, a Lethbridge resident since 1965 and owner of Carline Muffler, has been politically active for more than a dozen years, primarily with the Lethbridge West Conservative Association.
He ran for mayor in 2001 and has served on numerous boards, most recently with Community Futures, University of Lethbridge faculty of management, and Alberta Blue Cross.
“I’ve been apprenticing for this job for about 20 years and I didn’t really know it,” said Switzer.
As Chamber of Commerce president, he wrote national policy briefs on Canada Pension, employment insurance and the Young Offenders Act. He worked with a team that redesigned health delivery in this region, a process he said is still evolving. And as president of Castle Mountain Community Association, he was devoted to environmental stewardship and developed a recycling program now well-used by the residents.
Jon Stevens, former mayor of Picture Butte, said Switzer has had good exposure to the dynamics and needs of rural southern Alberta, thanks in part to his time on the Community Futures board.
“And Mark had good exposure to the opportunities and challenges of rural communities when he served four years on the regional health authority,” Stevens said. “I’ve come to better know and appreciate Mark’s talents by working closely with him on the Community Futures board. I’ve seen through attendance at regional and national conferences how he carries the respect of his peers.”
Clint Dunford, former Lethbridge West MLA and a cabinet minister in the Klein government, threw his support behind Switzer as well.
“I owe this man a great deal of support and certainly loyalty,” Dunford said. “He’s shown that to me over my political life. I don’t do this lightly. I don’t have any concerns at all about his ability to represent us.”
Switzer has been recognized for extensive community service and business achievements, receiving the Alberta Distinguished Service Award for outstanding volunteer service, the Alberta Centennial Medal, Chamber of Commerce small business of the year, and Western Canadian Dealer of the Year (twice in 10 years).
Switzer graduated recently from the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D program at the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Business, in partnership with Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. He is president of the Switzer Group, which includes Carline as well as Global M&S Ltd.; PartsNX.com; RPM; and Switzer Developments.
He is married to public school trustee Lea Switzer and they have three adult children - Arthur, Emma and Anna.
“Luckily all my children are adults and they’re all going to school right now,” he said. “My wife is very involved politically with the school board and the City of Lethbridge; she’s very busy with a lot of commitments, so I think for us it’s something that will work. The issue that I have to manage, of course, is the transition of my business which is over 35 years old, but I have excellent senior staff.”
In January, Casson announced his intention to retire at the end of this term, after representing the region in Ottawa for more than a dozen years. A tentative date of June 5 has been put forward by the Electoral District Association board for the nomination meeting, but the actual date will be determined by the National Campaign Director in consultation with the Candidate Nomination Committee.
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