Why You Should be Interested

In today’s Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid says “A tiny group of Albertans - probably no more than 50,000 party members - will vote on a premier for 3.7 million souls.  It's a moment of huge public significance. But in Calgary, there's probably more interest in the Flames roster.”

I am certainly hoping that my friends will take a more active part and it’s not too late.  If you choose to vote you can buy a membership (Only $5) at the polls. If you want to know where those polls are you can check the PC Party site or http://www.HornerForAlberta.ca as that is the site I helped put up.  I know many of my Liberal and NDP friends are voting today and will be Two-Minute Tories just because they want to have a say in who becomes premier.

And if you want some help deciding, maybe my process of evaluating how I arrived at my choice might help.  The main point is that during these tough worldwide economic times we need experienced leadership.  This is not a time to tinker with someone who is a great speaker or to vote for someone based on emotional popularity.  That is what the Americans did with the beloved but highly experienced Barack Obama who I liked too.  Now they are struggling with massive unemployment and predictions of huge riots to come.  We don’t need to go there!

Both Doug Griffiths and Alison Redford are emotional favourites of mine but lack experience managing anything really.  Both are young though and in another 5 to 10 years these 2 would make awesome candidates if they made it into cabinet during that time and they should.

On the other end of the spectrum Rick Orman is just too old school.  Ted Morton is just too American. He even taught American policy as a professor at U of C and was born in the USA and moved here when he was 32.

Gary Mar in my opinion is the worst of all of the candidates but has a ton of experience.  Why is he the worst?  He has never apologized or expressed remorse for giving his old buddy and executive assistant Kelley Charlebois what amounted to a taxpayer gift of $400,000.  Don’t take my word for it, research it on Google or read this: Premier Klein's Health Minister Gary Mar has paid Tory insider Kelley Charlebois over $400,000 for oral "advice." Although Gary Mar has 1,287 employees in his health ministry doing administrative and communications work, he paid Mr. Charlebois $143,000 in 2001, then $119,000 in 2002, then $111,000 in 2003 for giving oral "advice." After paying Mr. Charlebois $373,000, Gary Mar hired him again in 2004. Then, last week, with the public expressing outrage and with a provincial election getting closer, Gary Mar finally terminated this fourth lucrative "consulting" contract.

A Freedom of Information request by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed that no reports are available to show whether Mr. Charlebois produced anything of value to taxpayers. Nor were these "consulting" contracts put to public tender; Mr. Charlebois got them without any competition.

And he continues to surround himself with unscrupulous people – Kelley Charlebois is back working on his campaign – and then this Give-Away of Free Memberships that cost $5 scandal: http://thealbertaardvark.blogspot.com/2011/09/team-mar-volunteer-donor-is-paying-for.html

Now Gary Mar is calling for more transparency!
Really?

MY CHOICE:

There is one candidate who has 10 years in government, served as minister of advanced technology and education and helped make Mount Royal College into a University amongst other major accomplishments and was deputy premier.  He has been involved in business around the world, with his family established province's first oat and barley milling operation and served in our armed forces reserves.  His father was with Peter Lougheed through that historic win.

His name is Doug Horner and I truly believe that with him as premier we will have an honest, innovative and highly intelligent premier who has a history of listening to the people and consulting with all stakeholders before decisions are made. 

By far The Best Choice for Alberta and I hope you will join me today in voting for him.