One political party's political picture is clearer in the riding of Kootenay-Columbia, after the Federal NDP association chose Mark Shmigelsky of Invermere to bear the standard into the next federal election at Saturday's nomination convention.

Delegates at the event at the Heritage Inn selected Shmigelsky from the three nominees, who included Rhonda Barter of Creston and Chris Nagy of Nakusp. Shmigelsky took the contest with 156 votes, to Barter's 59 and Nagy's seven (six ballots were counted as spoiled).

The candidate sees opportunity for the NDP now that long-serving Conservative MP Jim Abbott is stepping down.

"I think it's wide open now that Jim's stepped back from his 17 years," Shmigelsky said in an interview as the convention was winding up. "Even more importantly, even if he was still here, there was already an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with what he's already done.

"The times are changing, so we're really excited about the opportunity we have here."

Shmigelsky is no stranger to politics - he ran against Abbott for the federal Liberals in the 1997 election, and has had a subsequent career in local politics

"I was 27 years old (during his first foray into federal politics)," he said. "I'm 40 now, I have a wife and two kids. I've had 15 years of municipal experience, nine as mayor. I've been on the RDEK - I've worked with mayors, regional district councillors, I've met premiers and prime ministers. So the background and understanding is certainly there. The understanding of the issues throughout this whole riding is there.

Shmigelsky says people throughout the riding have a chance to get better involved in the democratic process.

I'm excited about the opportunities for the people in this riding to get back to a democratic sense, to get people involved in the process again, because they've been shut out. We've lost our voice in this riding. Even since Stephen Harper became leader, he's taken the words right out of the mouth of Jim Abbott. We're going to change that."

As to the upcoming election, Shmigelsky said that whenever it's called, he'll be ready.

"Right now, I'm going to go outside, I'm going to take a deep breath, and then we're going to get back to work. There was some great enthusiasm in this room. We're looking forward to getting to work right away.

"It's up to the Prime Minister, when he's going to call the election. I know he's trying to send out that poison pill, but we've heard it all before. When it comes it comes - if it's at the end of the year, we'll be ready.

Saturday's convention also featured guest speaker Corky Evans - former Provincial NDP MLA and cabinet minister from Nelson-Creston. He saw the current state of flux in the riding as an exciting time for Kootenay-Columbia.

"It doesn't happen very many times in a lifetime - that's how I got elected. Rural people are conservative, they like to elect the same guy," Evans told the Daily Townsman prior to his speech.

"When I quit, four people ran for the job. Jim's time is done, and three people are running. It's exciting. It's a moment when people are going to make up their mind, and then that person - so long as they're honest and work hard - will probably serve for 17 years. So this is one of those moments in political life where it really matters, and people will watch."

When asked what the gist of his remarks to the convention would be, Evans said: "That 17 years is a long time, and this would be the moment of hope, and change and shift, and people will wake up and everybody will be thinking about it

Evans said he was impressed that the three nominees represented such diverse parts of the constituency. My impression is that people get it, that the candidates get it, that Canada is at a moment of huge shift, and this constituency is at a moment of huge shift. And people are participating from all over the geography.

"That would be nothing in West Vancouver or in Calgary. But this riding is like a small country - it's the size of Denmark. And so that's a huge commitment."

Shmigelsky agreed, but after all, he's seen it before.

"The first time I did it, it was 13,000 kilometres and 10 pounds," he said. "I'm looking forward to the 13,000 kilometres and I'm looking forward to about 20 pounds this time around."

The Conservative and Liberal parties have yet to nominate their candidates. Among the Conservatives, three nominees have put their name forward so far: David Wilks of Sparwood, Wes Graham of Creston and Dale Shudra of Invermere.