The former Wildrose leader lost the riding of Highwood tonight. The Herald’s Trevor Howell has this report from High River:
Smith lost her bid to carry the Tory blue and orange banner in the general election to Carrie Fischer, a rookie councillor for the town of Okotoks.
Party officials said 972 ballots were cast in the closely watched race, but refused to divulge the final tally for each candidate.
Party officials said 972 ballots were cast in the closely watched race, but refused to divulge the final tally for each candidate.
The ex-Wildrose leader delivered a brief concession speech in which she congratulated Fischer, thanked PC members for participating in the vote as well as her staff and family for helping with her campaign.
She expressed no regrets crossing the floor last year, and reiterated her support for Premier Jim Prentice saying he is the only political leader with a credible long-term plan.
“It’s important for conservatives to unify under his leadership,” she said. “We have $50 oil, a $7 billion hole in the budget and I think that Mr. Prentice with his budget came through with the right balance of spending austerity as well as revenue increases and dipping into the contingency fund.”
Smith said she would support Fischer’s campaign, but would take time to discuss her next move with her husband.
While Smith had the support of Prentice and other high-profile PC MLAs, Fischer (Smith’s sole competition) had the backing of several local politicians and party diehards unwilling to embrace the ex-Wildrose leader into the Tory fold.
She is the first of the Wildrose Party defectors to lose a nomination battle as a Progressive Conservative. All the others retired or won their races.
Update: Danielle Smith loses PC nomination; party refuses to divulge final vote tally | Calgary Herald
Smith lost her bid to carry the Tory blue and orange banner in the general election to Carrie Fischer, a rookie councillor for the town of Okotoks.
Party officials said 972 ballots were cast in the closely watched race, but refused to divulge the final tally for each candidate.
Party officials said 972 ballots were cast in the closely watched race, but refused to divulge the final tally for each candidate.
The ex-Wildrose leader delivered a brief concession speech in which she congratulated Fischer, thanked PC members for participating in the vote as well as her staff and family for helping with her campaign.
She expressed no regrets crossing the floor last year, and reiterated her support for Premier Jim Prentice saying he is the only political leader with a credible long-term plan.
“It’s important for conservatives to unify under his leadership,” she said. “We have $50 oil, a $7 billion hole in the budget and I think that Mr. Prentice with his budget came through with the right balance of spending austerity as well as revenue increases and dipping into the contingency fund.”
Smith said she would support Fischer’s campaign, but would take time to discuss her next move with her husband.
While Smith had the support of Prentice and other high-profile PC MLAs, Fischer (Smith’s sole competition) had the backing of several local politicians and party diehards unwilling to embrace the ex-Wildrose leader into the Tory fold.
She is the first of the Wildrose Party defectors to lose a nomination battle as a Progressive Conservative. All the others retired or won their races.
Update: Danielle Smith loses PC nomination; party refuses to divulge final vote tally | Calgary Herald
