Yorkton was on a list of stops in the week leading up to Christmas for Saskatchewan New Democrat leader Dwain Lingenfelter.
"It's been really busy," he explained, adding the stopover was an opportunity to talk to local media, part of 55 year-end interviews he has done.
Lingenfelter said when he looks ahead 2011 will be a year-long run toward next fall's provincial election, adding he has been spending a lot of time and effort readying a field of candidates for his party.
"I'm amazed at how fast this is all coming together," he said.
Lingenfelter, who twice acted as campaign manager for the NDP in past elections said he has "never seen candidates selected this far ahead." To-date 42 candidates are either nominated, or have dates set. " We won't have any left to nominate seven-months ahead of the election."
Locally a nomination meeting is expected in late January, with Chad Blenkin already indicating his intention to run, although Lingenfelter said there may be more than one candidate putting their name forward.
While the candidates are falling into place, Lingenfelter said his party still has work to do to be ready for an election next fall.
"Where we have to get our work done is on our policy," he said. "People want to know what we're about before they make decisions. Before you can get people to vote for you you have to have a platform."Lingenfelter said if his party can put together a platform which resonates with rural voters, those concerned with child welfare, health care, education and other key issues, then the party will be competitive in the election.
"If you don't get a platform built, a foundation built, you can't run an election," he said, adding it's up to the party to develop an election " platform that we can be proud of and the public can vote for."As for the governing Saskatchewan Party, Lingenfelter said "the budget will be an outline of their platform."
