Angry with a government he says isn’t listening, Sturgeon County Mayor Don Rigney has put his name forward for the Wildrose Alliance nomination in the Athabasca-Redwater constituency.
Rigney is one of four people running for the nomination that will pit the winner against Progressive Conservative MLA Jeff Johnson in the next election.
“Quite simply Alberta needs a new government,” Rigney said on Monday. “I have tried everything I can to bring change from within and I have not been successful.”
Rigney said he came to the decision last Friday and submitted his nomination papers for the party’s contest.
He joins Athabasca-area farmer Travis Olson, former Abe school trustee Laurie Genert and Smokey Lake county councillor Lori Danyluk as nominees.
Rigney said he has supported the Tories on some areas where he believes they have made the right decision, including funding the Anthony Henday and giving a boost to North West Upgrading’s refinery project, but he cannot overlook their mistakes.
He said the government’s land-use bills are particularly worrisome.
“I think without questions that these are some of the worst legislation that has passed in Alberta history, if not the worst that have passed in 1,000 years of British legal tradition.”
He said those bills should be revoked.
“I am on the record as opposing many of those things so I am running to reverse them,” he said. “I am convinced that Danielle Smith and the Wildrose are the best people with the best policies to do it.”
He said the government won’t listen to citizens on those issues and is stifling debate.
“We elected the current government to govern, not dictate. They are treating us like subjects not citizens.”
Rigney said he will continue on as mayor and intends to put other things in his life on the back burner to take on this new mantle if he is successful in securing the nomination.
“I was elected by the people of Sturgeon County to serve as mayor and I intend to do that whether nominated or not,” he said. “The people of Sturgeon County will not suffer or go without the service they expect from me.”
Rigney said that, given he does not have the nomination and there is no pre-set election date, he can’t specifically say what his plans for being mayor will be.
County Coun. Karen Shaw said she supports the mayor’s move entirely.
“I signed his papers. He stands up for landowner rights and I applaud him for having the courage to do that.”
Both Shaw and Rigney said they do have concerns about potential blowback from him seeking such a public position against the government, but Rigney said if the government were to do that, it would be only further proof of the need to replace them.
“If that is how they govern, by punishing those that disagree with them, I have or we have no choice but to replace them,” he said. “I should be able to associate with the party of my choosing without fear for political retribution for either myself or the community I represent.”
Shortly after the announcement, the Industrial Heartland Association said that Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk would take over as board chair, a position Rigney had filled.
Donna Van Den Broek, chair of the constituency association’s nominating committee, said they are reviewing the four candidates’ nominations now. The race will officially start next week.
She said they are considering a mail-in ballot for party members due to the large size of the riding. Doing so would conclude the process at the end of May, but the details still have to be worked out.
