UCP Leadership Election

[Canehdianman]

Voting just opened for the leader of the United Conservative Party of Alberta, so I thought I'd start a new thread (as this is likely going to determine who the next premier will be).

Three candidates: Brian Jean, Doug Schweitzer and Jason Kenney.

I just voted (for Doug Schweitzer as #1, and Brian Jean as #2), hoping to position the party further towards fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I'm fairly certain my candidate won't win, but I'm still hoping.

If it doesn't work, then I'm considering buying an Alberta Party membership.

Who are you cheering for?

[killer_carlson]

I think Kenney will govern the way Harper did, with social issues being parked.

I am hoping Kenney wins.

[Frequitude]

I will be voting Schweitzer as I also would like to see a more central party.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think Kenney will govern the way Harper did, with social issues being parked.

I am hoping Kenney wins.

I think it is very likely that Kenney will win.

If he does, then I think the best case scenario is that he governs exactly as you suggest. However, I don't think it is possible to completely park them... You can avoid some of the hotter topics, but there are few bills that completely avoid social issues. For example, Harper's "tough on crime" legislation is definitely a social issue.

[Knut]

Went with Schweitzer 1 and Kenney 2. Left Jean off completely.

You can only select on person, or rank them. Which is good.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Hes

Went with Schweitzer 1 and Kenney 2. Left Jean off completely.

You can only select on person, or rank them. Which is good.

Yeah, it is a preferential ballot, so you should can choose up to 3 candidates (although there is no point in choosing the 3rd).

If your first choice gets eliminated, then your second choice will get your vote in the run-off.

[calgarygeologist]

I really haven't paid attention to the process at all. Is it online? Did I have to pre-register in order to vote if I'm a member?

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I really haven't paid attention to the process at all. Is it online? Did I have to pre-register in order to vote if I'm a member?

You should have received several e-mails about it. You had to register to vote several weeks ago. I'm not sure you can vote if you haven't registered.

Call the UCP at 1-888-465-2660 and see what they can do for you.

[Bootsy]

I voted Kenney 1, Schweitzer 2 and Jean 3. I also think Kenney governs similar to Harper.
I will support any of the leaders, I see positives and negatives in all of them.

[OBCT]

My approximate order of preference is:

1. Schweitzer
2. Alberta Party
3. Jean
4. Liberal Party
5. Kenney

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Voting just opened for the leader of the United Conservative Party of Alberta, so I thought I'd start a new thread (as this is likely going to determine who the next premier will be).

Three candidates: Brian Jean, Doug Schweitzer and Jason Kenney.

I just voted (for Doug Schweitzer as #1, and Brian Jean as #2), hoping to position the party further towards fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I'm fairly certain my candidate won't win, but I'm still hoping.

If it doesn't work, then I'm considering buying an Alberta Party membership.

Who are you cheering for?

I'm with you on your voting, and consideration of the Alberta Party.

I think Kenney will win as he's too good at playing the game.

[Ozy_Flame]

As someone who isn't a member and isn't voting, is this a weighted vote tally? Putting preferences in ranked order?

[octothorp]

Not my party, but I would be pleasantly shocked if Schweitzer won (and if there wasn't an immediate outspoken social-conservative backlash to him winning).

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

As someone who isn't a member and isn't voting, is this a weighted vote tally? Putting preferences in ranked order?

It is a preferential ballot, but the votes are not weighted.

Basically you only get one vote. So it will be your #1 choice initially. If your #1 choice gets kicked out for the run-off, then your #2 choice will get your vote.

[Ace]

I had to look it up before voting, but you rank the candidates, and it only goes to your second choice if your first choice gets eliminated in the first round. If your first pick is still in it then the ranking has no bearing on your vote.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by OBCT

My approximate order of preference is:

1. Schweitzer
2. Alberta Party
3. Jean
4. Liberal Party
5. Kenney

Haha, love how our current governing party doesn't even make the list.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

I also hope Schweitzer wins, but suspect Kenney will take this. You never know--the preferential ballot sometimes causes strange results--but Kenney is seasoned, plays the game well, and has been laying the groundwork for this for a long time.

I suspect a UCP under Schweitzer waltzes into government pretty easily with a whole bunch of urban seats that will be way tougher for Kenney to win, but then I'm terrible at political prognostication, so what do I know?

[Table 5]

Schweitzer is the only way they'll get a significant chunk of the anti-PC/Wildrose crowd to vote for UPC. In the end, he may or may not be exactly like the other two, but being an unknown is not necessarily a bad thing when you have Kenney and Jean as your alternative.

[fotiou22]

Originally Posted by OBCT

My approximate order of preference is:

1. Schweitzer
2. Alberta Party
3. Jean
4. Liberal Party
5. Kenney

Good list, but I'd honestly put Notley ahead of Kenney. Hell, I'd put Ken King and Troy Brouwer ahead of Kenney.

[Ozy_Flame]

I have a feeling Kenney runs away with it, his anger-based and populist rhetoric will probably really nail down the rural and senior vote. My guess is more moderate and/or younger conservative voters go with Schweitzer, or even Jean as a protest vote. Who knows.