MLA for Drumheller-Stettler Rick Strankman

The Wildrose Drumheller-Stettler Constituency Association (CA) is missing one key ingredient implied by its name - broad representation from Drumheller on its board.
    Three local members of the constituency association, Stan Solberg, Chip Aiello and Dale Wilson, were voted off the board at a special meeting on Wednesday, June 11. One remaining Drumheller resident on the board is MLA Rick Strankman’s assistant Patrick Turnbull.
    Strankman detailed the events at the meeting.
    He explains the special meeting was to sign new bylaws and confidentiality agreements put out by the party, made effective May 20, 2014.  Strankman said the three named refused to sign.
    “It is part of the party’s policy  that to be a director in the party, they have to abide by a code of conduct,” he said.
    “The CA board, under the leadership of officers, may carry out such actions as to carry out the objectives of the CA and the party. The CA board may review and take appropriate actions to address issues of board members failing to comply with the bylaws and the failure of signing board compliance documents,” he read from a draft of the policy.
    He said the board voted 10-3 to remove the three members. 
    Strankman attended and participated in the vote. His constituency assistants Patrick Turnbull and Gary Wilyman were at the meeting and Strankman said he did not witness them voting.
    When asked whether he voted, Turnbull declined to say.
    Constituency president Ken Perrault told The Mail he could not comment on details of the meeting.
    Strankman said it is important for members of the board to follow the party’s bylaws.
    “Some of what was going on was some of the directors were a little over exuberant in presenting their positions going forward. If they are going to take the position as directors going forward, then they should abide within the rules of the party, and our board decided to vote to follow those rules. I hope people would believe this is democratic,” said Strankman.
    He explained an advertisement taken out in The Drumheller Mail was discussed at the special meeting.
    “The ad said ‘the Wildrose Drumheller–Stettler Constituency Association has announced that the nominations are open (on June 4)… this was untrue,” he said. “That is not done by the Constituency Association, it is done by the party, and the party didn’t issue voice mails, or e-mails, until 4 p.m. in the afternoon."
    He said he would like to see a process where the start time is well defined.
    “Until the starter’s gun goes off, the race isn’t on. My advice to the party is to advise everyone there is going to be a nomination race, but the official race for collecting signatures and building support does not start until a set time.”
    He said the meeting was originally planned for June 14, a day after nominations in the riding closed, but they moved the meeting forward to last Wednesday, June 11.     
     Drumheller Town Councillor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk was wanting to be considered as a nominee, however on Friday afternoon she posted on Facebook she would no longer be seeking the nod.
    Strankman said there was another person in the Stettler area who took out nomination papers. On Saturday, Strankman posted on Facebook he would be the nominee for the party in the area. 
    “I’m very proud to be acclaimed as the candidate for Drumheller-Stettler. Thank you to everyone who supports the Wildrose organization,” he stated.
    He feels the lack of Drumheller representation on the board will not hurt him in the area.
    “I don’t have any maliciousness towards anyone of those fellows, but there is a level that has to be achieved, and I can’t change the motions of the board,” he said.
    “That is the beauty of democracy, people get a chance, in a secret place, to vote. I am going to represent Drumheller to the best of my ability going forward.”