Alison Redford edges out Gary Mar - via second place ballots - to become the new PC leader and Premier of Alberta.
Wow - never saw this coming at all.
Redford wins PC Leadership by 1,613 votes
By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Live+B...ership+votes/5488636/story.html#ixzz1ZbpR2Kub
Alison Redford, one of the governing Tories' harshest critics from within their ranks, is now their leader, and soon, Alberta’s first female premier.
The final tally put the former justice minister over establishment favourite Gary Mar, 37,104 votes to 35,491.
He had won on first choices. But with the second choices on the leadership election's preferential ballot , Redford proved to have wider appeal.
This is a remarkable turnaround for the 46-year-old human rights lawyer, who had fewer than half the votes of Mar during the first round on Sept. 17. She's pitched herself in the two weeks since -- and throughout the campaign -- as the candidate of change, ready to refresh a 40-year-old power dynasty she said had governed poorly for the last several years.
The Redford team depicted Mar as a status-quo Tory old boy who offered dangerous proposals for private health-care delivery.
Her campaign drew heavily from left-of-centre opposition parties, with many Alberta Party or Liberal supporters admitting on Twitter and elsewhere they became "instant Tories" to vote for Redford.
"It's irrelevant whether it's about Liberals or Conservatives or really any party -- she's just a leader for our time," said Beth Gignac, who ran for the Liberals last election in Calgary-West. Impressed with Redford's record on human rights in the developing world, and her stances on health care and education, she attempted to rally fellow progressives to Redford's side.
"Rachel Notley is my (NDP) MLA and will have my vote next time too," said one Edmontonian who purchased a $5 party card Saturday to help elect Redford. She didn't want her name used.
Wow - never saw this coming at all.
Redford wins PC Leadership by 1,613 votes
By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Live+B...ership+votes/5488636/story.html#ixzz1ZbpR2Kub
Alison Redford, one of the governing Tories' harshest critics from within their ranks, is now their leader, and soon, Alberta’s first female premier.
The final tally put the former justice minister over establishment favourite Gary Mar, 37,104 votes to 35,491.
He had won on first choices. But with the second choices on the leadership election's preferential ballot , Redford proved to have wider appeal.
This is a remarkable turnaround for the 46-year-old human rights lawyer, who had fewer than half the votes of Mar during the first round on Sept. 17. She's pitched herself in the two weeks since -- and throughout the campaign -- as the candidate of change, ready to refresh a 40-year-old power dynasty she said had governed poorly for the last several years.
The Redford team depicted Mar as a status-quo Tory old boy who offered dangerous proposals for private health-care delivery.
Her campaign drew heavily from left-of-centre opposition parties, with many Alberta Party or Liberal supporters admitting on Twitter and elsewhere they became "instant Tories" to vote for Redford.
"It's irrelevant whether it's about Liberals or Conservatives or really any party -- she's just a leader for our time," said Beth Gignac, who ran for the Liberals last election in Calgary-West. Impressed with Redford's record on human rights in the developing world, and her stances on health care and education, she attempted to rally fellow progressives to Redford's side.
"Rachel Notley is my (NDP) MLA and will have my vote next time too," said one Edmontonian who purchased a $5 party card Saturday to help elect Redford. She didn't want her name used.
ound:
