Members of the Alberta Party's Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock constituency association got their first look at a leadership hopeful last week when Glenn Taylor paid a visit.
Taylor, the current mayor of Hinton and the first candidate to declare, met with residents of the fledgling constituency association last Thursday night.
Since announcing his run last month Taylor has met with associations across the province as the party slowly builds its political base.
Taylor told the group he got into the race because after so many years of one-party rule in Alberta he believes the province needs a boost for better government.
"In the province of Alberta our democracy is wanting," he said. "We have a responsibility as citizens that if we think the government is found wanting and democracy needs tending then we have a responsibility as citizens to re-engage."
Policy planks
Taylor stressed he believes the party will have to determine policy on its own, but he does have some ideas about what that should entail.
He said he favours an open approach to government. Citing last week's budget, it's his preference to talk to Albertans about the contents rather than delivering the public a completed document.
Putting his local experience to use, he also said he wants municipalities to get stable, unrestricted funding from the province and end the system of fluctuating year-to-year grants.
"It starts with the basic understanding that municipalities are fiscally responsible and they should have the freedom to make decisions for their constituents."
Taylor said government has to put ideology aside and focus on what is good for the province.
He cited the case of MLAs Raj Sherman and Guy Boutilier who were removed from the Tory caucus for speaking out on issues. He said that is a bad sign for good policy development and for democracy.
"When Raj Sherman spoke about what we were all thinking, that health care is in crisis, and their response was to ask him to leave," he said. "For me that was the final straw."
Sherman has speculated about running for the Alberta Party leadership and Taylor said he would welcome him to the race.
"I believe his values align with the Alberta Party. I believe he would find a home quite comfortably here."
This early in the race it is hard to know how the leadership question will resolve, but he believes he has a good chance, he said.
"I believe the party is looking for some experienced leadership and I certainly can bring that decade of experience I have at both the local and provincial level."
Two other candidates are in the race: Calgarian Tammy Maloney, a former oil and gas analyst, and Chris Tesarski, who also has worked in the energy sector.
