Swift Current now has an official NDP candidate for the upcoming provincial election.

Stefan Rumpel has once again been selected to run for the NDP in the riding.

The decision was made at an online nomination meeting. Rumpel was the only potential candidate nominated for the role. His nomination was met with praise from his NDP peers in attendance.

He also ran for the party during the 2018 by-election. At the meeting it was shared that in that year, they saw a 10 per cent rise in their vote share.

Also in attendance at the meeting was the Leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, Ryan Meili, who thanked Rumpel for his candidacy and another run at the MLA seat for Swift Current.

Also discussed at the meeting was how the pandemic will affect their efforts to win the upcoming election.

Rumpel reinforced that they do plan on winning the riding.

“We’re definitely the underdogs in this fight, if we want to call it that, but that’s kind of exciting for our team to have an opportunity to push those ideas.”

He gave praise to Meili for being able to attend the meeting.

Rumpel is also a teacher at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

He added that points he feels strongly on and will bring into the election were closures of rural emergency rooms, as well as funding for programs such as education.

“It’s been telling, over the ten years that I’ve been a teacher, watching [educational assistants] leave the building, watching other supports leave our buildings, whether it be councillors, and other things that students rely on, and that’s directly because of cuts to education.”

Meili said that with the increase of digital communication, he’s able to make more appearances to support his party.

“I’d much rather be in a room in Swift Current with a bunch of local members and be able to connect with people that way. It does allow me to show up in parts of the province, the other night I had a nomination in Regina, and a half-hour later in Saskatoon. I couldn’t do that if I had to be driving.”

He added that Swift Current is an important city in the province for them, and Rumpel is a good representative.

“[He's] really connected to his community, lots of great ideas, and just somebody that’s really easy to talk to, I think he’d be a terrific member of any caucus.”