And the race is on for the leadership of the Wildrose Party and candidate Brian Jean made a campaign stop through Drumheller last Monday to talk with constituents.
Jean was at the Badlands Community Facility to meet with voters and tell his story. While his professional and political career has taken him all over the province and indeed the country, some of his roots lie near the valley.
“Our family has a property that is been in the family over 100 years in Michichi,” he said. “My family moved here in the early 1900s and settled in Michichi. It is still owned by my family,’ he said. “I also went to Three Hills for my high school.”
While many were ringing a death knell for the party last December when the bulk of its MLAs crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives (PC), Jean was more optimistic.
“I don’t think it has blown up at all, as a politician who has been around for 10 years, and before that watching political races, I don’t think the party is destroyed,” he said. “I think it is strong and vibrant and will do well in the next election.”
He feels voters are looking for accountability.
“Every Albertan I talk to realizes we need a strong opposition to hold these guys to account,” he said. "Because if they don’t have a strong opposition they will keep spending like they have been doing for years. I don’t think Albertans want them to have a blank cheque to do anything they want.”
The only thing that stands between Albertans and high taxes is the Wildrose Party and Brian Jean as the leader of that party.”
He says leadership can be key to success from the party.
“I see where the Wildrose is polling, I see where they have polled before and where they polled in the last election, I know with a leader to carry them through the election, they will get an eight point bump, and if the leader is any good, they will get a five point bump, and that is a minority government.”
He feels there is momentum behind his leadership bid.
“I feel people are supporting me, I get a lot of phone calls with people telling me they want to support me, especially after we meet and talk about what is important to them and what I believe my priorities are for Alberta,” he said. “The things I am talking about are Alberta’s priorities because I recognize what Albertans want.”
“Success is to work hard and put my ideas forward and to for Alberta voters, to agree with my proposals enough to follow them through and form the official opposition,” said Jean.
