Premier Ed Stelmach steps down
Posted Jan 25, 2011 9:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Premier Ed Stelmach has announced he won’t run in the next provincial election.
The premier says he has decided 25 years is enough in politics and he’s not prepared to serve another full term.
Stelmach made the announcement Tuesday at an afternoon news conference.
He indicated he’s been talking with his caucus and family about this decision for the past couple of months, and had also been reflecting on his own commitment.
“I have decided to announce today that I will not be running as a candidate in the next general election. There is no doubt, no doubt that my decision will come as a shock to many and a disappointment to my friends and Albertans,” says Stelmach.
The premier also thanked his caucus for being so committed to serving Albertans.
Stelmach didn’t leave without taking a shot at the Wildrose Alliance.
He says the next campaign will be a U.S. wedge-style election, allowing a party to cloak itself in progressive values but in the end, shift the province hard to the right.
Stelmach says he plans to officially announce his resignation as Conservative party leader and premier at a later date, but there’s no word yet when that will be.
Stelmach became premier in December 2006 and led the party to a large majority in the 2008 election.
