It's a homecoming of sorts for Constance Maffenbeier.
The Buffalo Party candidate for Swift Current MLA in this fall's provincial election lived in Val Marie and graduated from the Swift Current Comprehensive High School in the early 1970s.
"When I was living in Val Marie, because we didn't have a whole lot of amenities down there, I spent a lot of time on the road traveling to Swift Current to do our business," Maffenbeier said. "I'm very familiar with Swift Current. I know a lot of people and we own some property just on the other side of the airport. We have actually been planning on building a site off that and moving back to Swift Current when we're going to be getting out of the cattle ranching."
Maffenbeier brings a varied resume to the campaign trail. Her career includes time in farming, construction, nursing, policing and the education system among others.
"I'm not a politician," she said. "I'm a working woman. I think I bring a wide variety of different experiences. Any job that I would be given to tackle I think I'd be well-rounded to cover a lot of the areas that are in exceptional need in the province of Saskatchewan. I've just come with a lot of experience.
"I've managed really well in our business on the farm and on the ranch."
As for why she joined the Buffalo Pary, Maffenbeier thinks after 17 years of the Saskatchewan Party in power it is time for some new ideas.
"I think they're getting old and tired," she said. "They don't have any practical new ideas. I think the Buffalo Party comes on with some really good ideas and some forethought in how they're going to help the people of Saskatchewan get more affordable living and better all-around service in Saskatchewan, regardless of whether it's health or education or the debt that Saskatchewan is currently undergoing."
Debt is a primary focus for Maffenbeier and one she feels is holding Saskatchewan back.
"We're up at a high level of debt and the interest that we're paying on that debt every year would certainly pay for a lot of amenities," she noted. "If I was running my business like the Saskatchewan Party is running Saskatchewan, I'd be broke and I'd have my bag packed and I'd be walking down the road. It's all about management as far as I'm concerned."
Maffenbeier is one of our candidates running for the seat as Swift Current MLA. Her opponents include incumbent Everett Hindley of the Saskatchewan Party, Jay Kimball of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and George Watson of the Saskatchewan Green Party.