Who will replace Stelmach?
Posted Jan 26, 2011 8:14 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A number of names are already being tossed around as possible successors to Premier Ed Stelmach.
Mount Royal University’s Duane Bratt tells 660News the way he sees it, this is Finance Minister Ted Morton’s race to lose.
“You’ll hear lots of people who say they’d never vote Conservative as long as Ted Morton is there,” says Bratt. “Those are probably people that would never vote Conservative anyways. What they’re aiming at is people who support the Wildrose Alliance.”
But don’t count out former Calgary MP and federal industry minister Jim Prentice just yet.
Prentice, who left politics for a senior vice-president position at CIBC, could be considering a run at Alberta’s top political job.
“He is semi-available, but he may find that private sector job very enticing,” says Bratt. “But once (you’re) a politician and you get that political animal in you, it’s tough to get rid of.”
He says the last premier was from the northern half of the province, when Stelmach was selected to replace Ralph Klein.
That’s why he feels it may be the south’s turn and the next leader might be from closer to home.
According to Bratt, many insiders have their eye on Calgary MLA and Justice Minister Alison Redford.
“She’s on the more progressive side of the PC party, she’s younger, female, which will be an important issue when you’re going up against Danielle Smith and has been a competent minister,” he says.
Other names being tossed about include former 2006 leadership hopeful Jim Dinning, Education Minister Dave Hancock and Deputy Premier Doug Horner.
Whoever the next premier might be, he or she has until March of 2013 before having to call another election.
There’s no word yet on a possible date for the leadership race.
