Calgary-Egmont: Craig Chandler and the Chandleristas are marching in full force against Ed Stelmach in Calgary.
“They picked the wrong guy to push aside — they’ve underestimated me every step of the way.” Chandler also announced three of his supporters who also plan to run as independents in the next election.Chandler also announced that he'll be launching a human rights complaint and suing the Alberta Progressive Conservatives for at least the $127,000 he spent campaigning to be their nominee.
This includes former Calgary Egmont association president David Crutcher, Concerned Christians Canada national chairman Jim Blake, and Chandler’s campaign manager Harley Shouldice.
As an independent candidate, Chandler will face former Calgary Catholic School District Chairperson and Alberta Liberal candidate Cathie Williams and the yet-to-be-chosen Tory
candidate.
Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview: Former Tory MLA Tony Vandermeer will take on ND MLA Ray Martin and Alberta Liberal candidate Dawit Isaac. Vandermeer was the MLA for Edmonton-Manning from 2001 to 2004. He was recently defeated by Peter Sandhu in the Edmonton-Manning Tory nomination meeting.
Edmonton-Gold Bar: It looks like Alberta Liberal MLA Hugh MacDonald will be facing expected to be nominated ND candidate Sherry McKibben and Tory candidate David Dorward. in the next election. Sherry McKibben served one-year as a Ward 3 City Councillor from 1994 to 1995.
In 1994, McKibben was elected in a by-election after Judy Bethel was elected as Federal Liberal MP for Edmonton-East, but was defeated in the 1995 municipal election by Robert Noce (yes, Robert Noce actually defeated someone during his political career). McKibben then ran in Edmonton-Norwood in 1997 as the ND candidate but was defeated by Alberta Liberal Sue Olsen (Tory MLA Andrew Beniuk was defeated in this election. Beniuk is now a candidate for the Stelmach Tories in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood).
Hugh MacDonald was first elected as Edmonton-Gold Bar's in 1997 after the retirement of Bettie Hewes (Hewes was the Alberta Liberal MLA for Gold Bar from 1986 to 1997). In 2004, MacDonald was re-elected with 62% of the votes and the second largest margin of victory in that election.
- Monday, December 17, 2007 -
ReplyDeleteCHANDLER TO RUN AS INDEPENDENT
EXODUS IN TORY PARTY
(Calgary) Craig Chandler announced today in Calgary that he will be seeking office in Calgary Egmont as an independent candidate. He also announced that he is taking legal action against the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party to recover his nomination expenses totalling roughly $127,000. Craig Chandler will also be filing a Human Rights complaint with the Alberta and Canadian Human Rights Commissions naming the party the Premier and each individual executive member of the party.
"I have decided based on consultation with many supporters that I will be running as an independent . I realize that many in Calgary Egmont joined to support Craig Chandler and not the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. I owe it to these people that believe in me to represent them effectively, as an Independent. Also, at the moment I feel I would not be alienating these people and I might if I chose another party that they may be unfamiliar with" stated Craig Chandler.
Craig Chandler was accompanied by four other individuals who are leaving the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and in protest will be running in the next election. These candidates are as follows:
Jim Blake – Running as a Wildrose Party candidate or as an Independent in the Constituency of Calgary Currie.
Sid Helishauer - As an Alberta Alliance Party candidate or an Independent in the Constituency of Airdrie Chestermere.
Harley Shouldice - As an Independent in the Constituency of Calgary North Hill.
David Crutcher – Either as an Alberta Alliance or as an Independent in the Constituency of Calgary Glenmore. David Crutcher will be delivering a message very clearly to the Deputy Premier, Ron Stevens.
"If these individuals are wishing to seek office with the Alberta Alliance Party or the Wildrose Party they need to contact these parties and pursue the nominations in those areas. These lovers of freedom and democracy are seeking to become MLA's either under a party banner or as Independents in support of democracy and in protest of Ed Stelmach. I have been receiving calls and donations from across Alberta and I am encouraging many to run for the Alberta Alliance Party, Wildrose Party or as Independents. There is no difference between Ed Stemach's Progressives and the Kevin Taft Liberals." concluded Chandler.
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For more information contact Craig Chandler, in Calgary at 203-3456
This may help Kathie - by splitting the wingnut vote from the normal Tory vote. In Calgary the wingnut vote in the Tory camp is higher than other Canadian cities, thus we may get lucky and have 40-50% of the PC's vote disappear to Chandler. One can only dream...
ReplyDeleteI heard Chandler on CBC tonight and I think a win for him is just the defeat of Tory candidates.
ReplyDeleteHe Wins = Victory
Tory Loses = Victory