Lone Alliance MLA elected as leader
RED DEER (CP) -- The Alberta Wildrose Alliance has elected its
lone sitting legislature member as leader in a third-round
ballot yesterday.
"This has been the
fastest year of my life," said Paul Hinman, who began his
elected political career 12 months ago in the 2004
provincial election.
Hinman took 626 of
1,128 ballots to win the leadership. His closest rival was
Marilyn Burns at 386.
There were 140
delegates to the convention, but mail-in ballots made up the
rest of votes, said party officials.
Hinman, his voice
breaking with emotion, told the 140 delegates that he will
"stay true to our principles." He said he'll continue to
hammer for reduced taxes, eliminating health premiums,
smaller government and voter recall of MLAs.
"You've left me with
my skates on, you've given me the puck, let's go forward,"
he said to loud applause.
Hinman also said his
party should set an example for the rest of Canada.
"They (the federal
Liberals) didn't allow a free vote on the definition of
marriage. How can they say it was democratic? We need to
lead with economic, moral, all areas, here in Alberta."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2005/11/20/1315061-sun.html
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