Shaun Cripps, a Warman City Councillor, is hoping to win the nomination to become the Saskatchewan Party candidate in the newly-created riding of Warman.
The Saskatchewan Party constituency nomination meeting is slated for Tuesday, September 5 in Warman.
Cripps, who launched his own company, S&K Mechanical, in 2012, officially announced his intention to seek the party nomination last week.
He is the second person to put his name forward in the race to carry the Sask Party colours in the next election, slated for the fall of 2024. Current Martensville-Warman MLA Terry Jenson, first elected to the Legislature in the 2020 provincial election, is also seeking the nomination.
Cripps was elected to Warman City Council in a byelection in 2022. He said his decision to seek political office at both the municipal and provincial levels stems from his desire to bring a more ‘business-like’ approach to public policy.
“Before last year, I really didn’t have any political aspirations,” said Cripps in an interview August 4. “I have a background in the construction industry, and my experience in serving on the Saskatchewan Construction Association (SCA) Board of Directors for the past eight years increased my understanding of the importance of helping shape good government policies.”
Cripps, who recently served as SCA Board Chair, said he spent a lot of time engaging with municipal and provincial leaders across Saskatchewan, learning to lobby effectively on behalf of the construction industry.
“Advocacy is a key to making positive change,” said Cripps. “During my time on Warman City Council, I’ve seen how the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and Federation of Canadian Municipalities lobby for communities at the provincial and federal levels. It’s important to grow collaboration and partnerships, because that creates a win-win situation for everyone.”
In his biography outlining his bid for the Sask Party nomination, Cripps said he “will balance all perspectives and bring my business sense to the decision-making table. I’m a blunt and direct guy… kind and thoughtful, too, but direct. You’ll know what I’m thinking, and I’ll never lie to you. We won’t always agree, but you’ll understand why I think the way I do, and you will always feel heard and understood by me.”
Cripps said despite his late entry into the race for the Sask Party nomination, he is confident he can build enough momentum to carry the vote at the nomination meeting on September 5.
“I’m not afraid of hard work,” said Cripps.
He said having a contested nomination meeting is important. “It’s democracy in action,” he said.