MLA for Drumheller Stettler Rick Strankman has announced he will sit as an independent MLA in the Legislature.
In a letter dated January 15, he requests to Speaker of the Assembly, the Hon. Robert E Wanner, that he be seated immediately as an independent MLA.
“Since the amalgamation of the Wildrose and the Progressive Conservative Parties, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that this is not including the grassroots principles of strong Conservative Albertan values,” he states.
“The hyper-partisan self-centered politics we see at play again today in Alberta has side-stepped the direct grassroots representation of Albertans to a point where their best interests are being put behind unwritten party interests. That is simply not acceptable to the hard-working Albertans within the constituency that are urging me to sit as an independent member.”
Strankman was elected in 2012 and 2015 as a Wildrose candidate. He ran for the UCP nomination but was unsuccessful. He stated sitting as an independent removes him from the current undemocratic atmosphere that is being fostered.
“At this time I will continue to carry out my duties as elected, and also focus my efforts on Economic Development as well as Property Rights entrenchment within the diverse constituency of Drumheller Stettler and Alberta.
