Warman realtor to challenge Brad Trost for CPC nomination

Brad Trost has a challenger for the Conservative Party of Canada nomination in the riding of Saskatoon-University.

His name? Also Brad.

Warman real estate agent Brad Redekopp is throwing his name in the hat to become Saskatoon’s next Conservative candidate for the 2019 federal election.

He’ll be taking on Trost, who has won five straight elections but is fresh off a failed CPC leadership bid where he placed fourth.

“I’m not judging Mr. Trost,” Redekopp said. “I’m just putting my name out there for the membership to decide.”

The longtime Saskatoon resident, recently transplanted to Warman, has set up a campaign website with the domain name “newbrad.ca”

When presented with Trost’s social conservative views, Redekopp said the CPC needed to move away from wedge issues.

“Divisive politics don’t gain us a lot of support, particularly among young people,” he said.
“We need to focus on those issues that bring us together and widen the tent.”

He noted his experience as a businessman in Saskatoon would direct his focus towards local business issues.

Redekopp said the Liberal government has been “attacking” local entrepreneurs, which concerns him.
650 CKOM reached out to Trost in mid-December to react to the new challenger.

The 14-year veteran of federal politics said he was a little surprised.

“I honestly didn’t think he was going to get his signatures and paperwork in,” he said.

Trost said the nomination made more sense once he found out Redekopp didn’t live in the riding.

“I think if you’re going to run in a riding, you should have some connection,” he said. “I find it a little confusing.”

Redekopp said he lived in the riding until recently moving to Warman.

—With files from 650 CKOM’s Bryn Levy.