Liberal MLA Kent Hehr wants to be the first Calgary Grit in almost half a century to win a seat in the House of Commons.

Hehr announced Thursday he is running for the Liberal nomination in the Calgary Centre riding currently held by Conservative MP Joan Crockatt.

“I know the people of Calgary Centre. I live, work and play in Calgary Centre. I understand the issues,” said Hehr.

“I have a very open relationship with the citizens of Calgary Centre. They share the values of progressive politics.”

“That’s what I sense with every fibre of my being.”

Hehr has represented the inner-city Calgary Buffalo constituency in the provincial legislature since 2008 and has been thinking about entering federal politics for about a year.

After much urging from supporters, Hehr spent the last six weeks taking a serious look at his options.

Hehr said he is confident he can do what so many other Liberal hopefuls in Calgary have been unable to pull off.

“We’re excited. We’re organized. We’re going like gangbusters,” he said.

“I have every confidence we’re going to be successful at the end of the journey.

“I sense, after close to a decade of Stephen Harper, people are looking for change.

“They’re tired of the dictatorial nature of the prime minister’s office. They’re tired of the politics-as-usual being played by that party. They’re tired of the simplistic solutions to large problems.”

The last time a Liberal won a federal seat in Calgary was in 1968.

Patrick Mahoney was elected by 756 votes in a wave of Trudeaumania.

Four years later he lost by 16,448 votes.

Chima Nkemdirim, Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s chief of staff, is also thought to be considering a run to be the Liberal candidate in Calgary Centre.

Hehr knows Nkemdirim and said he welcomes a competitive nomination battle.

“I think it would be healthy for democracy and I think it would be healthy for Calgary Centre,” he said.

rick.bell@sunmedia.ca