The results of the Progressive Conservative leadership election on Oct. 1 sent shockwaves through the province, but nowhere will those shockwaves have a greater impact than in the Highwood constituency.
With Alison Redford winning the Tory leadership race, and subsequently being named the premier designate, the ramifications in southern Alberta will be profound.
Two prominent southern Alberta MLAs, Highwood’s George Groeneveld and Livingstone-Macleod’s Evan Berger, supported leadership candidate Ted Morton.
When Morton did not advance to the final ballot with Redford, Doug Horner and Gary Mar, Groeneveld and Berger joined Morton in supporting Mar who had emerged as the clear favourite.
There was certainly some backlash in southern Alberta when the three foothills MLAs hitched their wagon to Mar’s campaign and it is clear a lot of their support did not follow them to Mar.
Morton championed fiscal responsibility, environmental stewardship and uniting the right, but that was not the message from Mar and certainly not Redford who is being described as Alberta’s first “liberal” premier since 1921.
With Morton and Mar’s loss, it is likely Groeneveld will not run in the next provincial election. He is expected to announce his decision later this month. Should Groeneveld not run it will leave a substantial void in Highwood, the home riding of Wildrose leader Danielle Smith.
It does not appear the Tories have a candidate waiting in the wings who can not only replace Groeneveld, but also challenge Smith. A few names have been tossed about including MD Coun. Ralph Nelson and MD Reeve Larry Spilak, but neither has expressed their interest publicly.
This will be a difficult decision for the PCs — do they concede Highwood to Smith and the Wildrose or do they bring in a worthy challenger, but risk he or she losing.
It would seem the Conservative’s best bet, should they decide to put up a fight in Highwood, would be Morton as his small-c conservative philosophies still resonate in the Highwood riding. It would be a substantial risk for Morton and the Tories, but he could be their only viable option to take on Smith who will almost certainly be gaining support from right-wing Progressive Conservatives after the Tory leadership results.
It would also be devastating to the Wildrose if Morton defeated Smith. Morton versus Smith would certainly make Highwood the lynchpin of the next election.
