The province chose Progressive Conservative blue, the Drumheller-Stettler riding chose Rose.
In one of the most anticipated elections in Alberta in decades, Alison Redford led the Progressive Conservatives to election victory.
“Something very exciting happened in Alberta tonight, everyone got engaged in the future of this province again, and that was because of the hard work of everyone who participated in these campaigns,” said Redford. “Today a new record number of Albertans chose to exercise their democratic right to come out and vote, every Albertan knew that this election was about choice, a choice to put up walls or build bridges… tonight Alberta chose to build bridges.”
While the results are unofficial, the PCs collected 61 seats to the upstart Wildrose Party, who were named official opposition with 17 seats, the NDP achieved official party status with four seats and the Liberal party picked up five.
Among the Official Opposition is Rick Strankman, but it was a dogfight. The lead jumped back and forth all night, however Strankman opened a roughly 500-vote lead with 73 of 87 polls reporting. In the end he won by more than 800 votes.
“I am pleased we won the constituency, but I wish we had done a better job province-wide,” said Strankman from the Hanna Legion where he gathered with supporters to watch the count come in.
He hopes he can work with the government.
“I would love to try. Premier Redford said she didn’t care to work with Danielle Smith, I am frustrated by this, but personally I don’t have any issues with the incumbent Mr. Hayden and I think we need to run on policy and let Albertans know about our policy going forward and we will continue to put these forward,” said Strankman.
He said he is thankful for the support he received.
“We are building a great team here, a lot of volunteers came forward with heartfelt work and it was a pleasure. I hope I can fulfill their commitment with my position going to Edmonton,” said Strankman.
The Drumheller-Stettler riding and its predecessors have had a long history of Progressive Conservative representation and often these MLAs have been cabinet ministers. The last time the Drumheller area was represented by an opposition member is when Gordon Taylor sat as an independent Social Credit MLA supporting the Lougheed government in 1975.
Strankman feels that he will be able to represent the constituency well.
“There is that side of the argument, but sometimes that works in the betterment of a constituency too, because the party in power does everything in their stead to woo constituents back to their platform, so I think it could work both ways.”
Hayden has held the Drumheller-Stettler riding since 2007. He has served as an elected official for 21 years.
“The election today shows my constituency and the majority of people have gone in another direction that I couldn’t go… so now I can go in my own direction,” he said. “I always said my worst case scenario is my best case scenario and I have my private life back.”
He is proud of the party’s success.
“We have 61 seats and I believe in the PC Party. I have always been very progressive. I always believed there is a big difference between a conservative and a progressive conservative and our province is growing so quickly it has to have progressive thought,” said Hayden.
He is grateful for the support throughout the years.
“Just within the community, when I look around at the projects we were able to accomplish…That is the case in every community in my constituency, I can go to every place in the constituency, and look at things we have been able to accomplish between the communities and the province, so no regrets,” said Hayden.
In the Drumheller-Stettler riding, Strankman had 49 per cent of the popular vote, Hayden won 44 per cent, Former DCHS student Aditya Rao picked up 3 per cent running for the NDP, Liberal candidate Cam Roset and Andrew Berdahl, running for the Alberta Party, each had 2 per cent.
Berdahl, who is also a town Councillor, says he looks forward to the future.
“Congratulations to Rick, and to Premier Redford. I look forward to working with them both, to make life better for the people of the region,” he said.
In the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding Wildrose candidate Bruce Rowe was victorious, beating closest contender Darcy Davis of the PCs by about 3,500 votes. This was the seat vacated by MLA Richard Marz.
In the Strathmore-Brooks riding, incumbent Arno Doerksen was defeated by Wildrose candidate Jason Hale by about 2,400 votes.
