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Twenty-two-year-old Bryan Young will run for the NDP in Airdrie this spring. Here he poses for a photo with the sculpture in front of City Hall.

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Young resident hopes to become Airdrie's next MLA

He was once bitten, but certainly isn’t twice shy.

Bryan Young will represent the NDP in the new Airdrie-only riding in the upcoming spring election.

This is the second time he has run in Airdrie. In 2008, he unsuccessfully ran for office for the first time at the age of 18.

He plans to make himself as visible as possible, knocking on doors, attending forums and meeting people whenever possible.

“We want to get out in the community and (have people) know the NDP’s message,” said Young, a George McDougall graduate. “We are on the sides of local families.”

The 22-year-old was born and raised in the city and has worked for the NDP since becoming a member in 2004.

During the 2004 election, Young wasn’t old enough to run, but said the election stirred his political will and caused him to join the party later that year.

Since then, he has served as a federal youth director of communications and hopes to further his political knowledge as MLA.

Young is volunteering with Community Links in its Big Brothers program. He said he is looking to become more involved in the community by speaking to people about issues of concern.

He said many Airdronians are simply not aware of NDP policy.

A key issue for Young is Alberta’s royalties for oil; he says the province collects too little and the money isn’t filtering down to the average person. He also pointed said that bitumen is being processed in Alaska and said there is no reason Alberta crude cannot be refined locally, thus stimulating the economy through job creation.

“Our current systems gives Albertans the short end of the stick,” he said.

Young finished last out of five parties in the 2008 provincial election with 609 votes, 8,765 less than current MLA Rob Anderson.