Shortly after nominations had closed on Jan. 26 and candidates were selected to run for the PC candidacy in the Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills riding, PC Alberta blew up the process, stating the local PC Association had violated the party constitution and disregarded the rules.
The former nomination committee was removed and nominations were extended, and long-time local MP Brian Storseth has announced he would also be putting his name in the hat to represent the riding.
“I think it’s been a head-turning experience for all of us,” Storseth said of all the changes in the election process, speaking to a crowd of nearly 40 friends and supporters gathered at the St. Paul Lions Den on Tuesday night.
Storseth said he had been interested in seeking the nomination while it was open, but faced a “negative campaign” and personal attacks against him and his family.
“It made me take a second look at it,” he said, adding his wife encouraged him to stand up for himself and run alongside other candidates, which includes former Lakeland County councillor Jeff Dechaine, current St. Paul Mayor Glenn Andersen, St. Paul area school board executive Darrell Younghans, and Mallaig resident and Storseth's own step-mother Joanne Penner.
Storseth had announced his intention not to re-run for election as the Conservative MP in the newly created Lakeland riding, but he said dropping oil prices, the impact on the provincial budget, the province’s reliance on oil, its health care and health care delivery were factors in his decision to run as an MLA.
“It’s too important to walk away at this time,” he said, noting it would be “naďve” however, to believe the campaign might not be negative.
Storseth publicly supported Wildrose candidate Shayne Saskiw in the hard-fought and divisive 2012 election that saw Saskiw prevail over long-time PC incumbent and former cabinet minister Ray Danyluk.
Storseth acknowledged in an interview after the meeting that this led to some bitterness post-election, but said he campaigned with Saskiw because he didn’t support the premier of the time, Alison Redford.
However, he has worked with Prentice, a former federal cabinet minister, and calls him “the real deal.”
“I truly believe he is the right choice to lead this province,” he said.
He spoke of the need for new energy in the constituency, seeking to distance himself from past politics, saying, “I’m not part of the old boys’ club.”
As for the removal of the local nomination committee and chief returning officer, executive director of PC Alberta Kelley Charlebois said it was a difficult decision.
“I think to the best of my knowledge, I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding and an interpretation of the rules to perhaps suit the local needs.”
The party’s constitution is very clear on timelines and the nomination process must last 35 days, he said, saying, “these rules weren’t followed.” When this fact was brought to the local nomination committee’s notice, he said there was resistance to change.
He felt the easiest solution was to thank volunteers for their service, remove the nomination committee, and appoint a new committee from outside the constituency.
“It’s not a reflection of their effort and their support for the party,” he said, noting the people running are long-time PC supporters and volunteers. However, he noted from an administrative point of view, the people who created the problem are not always the best people to address the problem.
He encouraged people to come and vote if they are interested in the March 14 election to select the party’s candidate, saying the process will be “clear, it’s open and follows the rules.”
