MLA for Drumheller-Stettler Rick Strankman, says it is up to his constituents as to whether he will run again for election.
Strankman, who is in his second term as MLA for the area, said when running, that he was an alternative to career politicians and is on record saying he only planned to serve for two terms. He has opened the window a bit to the possibility of running again.
“I stand by that (two terms), but given pressure from the constituents and possibly the invigoration of a solid conservative front… I’ll leave it up to the constituents,” he said. “My goal was one term in opposition and one term under Danielle Smith. I felt that was a fair goal at the time, but now possibly one term under a unified Alberta party in governance might be exciting, if the people feel I am fit for that.”
He said last week he joined Wildrose leader Brian Jean for a meet and Greet in Hanna, and says it was productive.
“I think a lot of people are wanting to learn about politics and policy. They understand we are in difficult economic times, if not dire, and they want to come and learn,” he said.
He said the subject of a unified right in Alberta came up.
“As you know, the conservative parties are in the forefront of those policy active people’s minds,” he said.
He acknowledges a recent poll by Lethbridge College put the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party in the lead, and former MP Jason Kenney is out pacing all the parties in fundraising.
“That is an interesting and positive turn of events. I would believe that Mr. Kenney’s principles and values that he brings forward in a conservative vein are more attuned to the Wildrose Party than they are to Progressive Conservative polices,” he said.
Whether Kenney becomes leader of the PC Party remains to be seen.
“I don’t have an opinion on that, I think it is up to the electorate. The fundraising that he has feeds into his popularity, but what the internal workings the conservative party will end up with, I hesitate to give an opinion on that,” he said.
Whether Strankman decides to run or not, he has a vision for the province.
“I still believe in a positive conservative atmosphere for the province. That was my goal right from the beginning,” he said. “I’ve always said I was never looking for a job but was there to simply edge out those who were there for career reasons, and we saw what happened to those who were there for career reasons with the floor crossing, and Albertans said ‘no thank you.’"
“I have come to learn that my role is not necessarily a leadership role, but a representative role. In many situations, we can take a leadership role, but we have to be cognizant that it is only the behest of the representation of the people,” he said.
