Gary Mar is going to have two new advantages stemming from the current political environment when he throws his hat into the Alberta Tory leadership ring, quite possibly later this week.
First, he’s known to have experience with the difficult health care file, having emerged seemingly unscathed after a period with the portfolio during the Ralph Klein years.
Second, he’s completely untouched by the current health care bullying brouhaha, having been conveniently posted to Washington D.C. as Alberta’s “envoy” during the chaotic years of Premier Ed Stelmach’s leadership.
Add to that the facts the fresh-faced 48-year-old Calgary lawyer and former MLA from that city held a variety of cabinet posts under Klein’s premiership, has been plotting this move for years, is said to have accumulated a sizeable campaign war chest and enjoys significant support from many of the activists who backed Jim Dinning’s serious campaign in 2006. So he has to be considered a front-runner, if not the front-runner.
Years ago, he was thought to be a particular favourite of Klein. He may still be, although the former premier’s health is now said to be too fragile for him to campaign actively for any candidate.
Mar was reported to be looking at the Ides of March — the day after tomorrow — as the moment to officially launch his campaign. We’ll know soon enough. He may decide to wait a few days to let the latest health care crisis percolate a little longer.
He’s also expected to announce that he’ll seek a Legislature seat in Edmonton — which will make him the only candidate from both Calgary and Edmonton, potentially a huge advantage in the race.
Unlike all the Conservative candidates to date, except perhaps Doug Griffiths, the continuing upheaval in health works more to his advantage than the other way around.
It may also distract attention from his only potential problem in this race, the $373,774 consulting fee paid by the Calgary Health Region for verbal advice to Conservative insider and former Mar aide Kelley Charlebois, which was assailed by the Auditor General in 2004.
But, really, while it’s already attracted the critical attention of the Wildrose Alliance, and while the payment may have been excessive, it wasn’t Mar who paid Charlebois. It seems likely that issue can be weathered with ease by Mar.
Meanwhile, while Mar’s elevator seems to be heading for the top floor, that of the current health minister, Gene Zwozdesky, appears to be going down to the basement.
Just days ago, Zwozdesky was dropping broad hints to reporters and bloggers that he too might soon join the Conservative leadership race.
But right now, tarnished by the charges and countercharges of bullying, hush money and waiting lists in the health care system levelled by Independent MLA and gadfly Raj Sherman with all four opposition leaders, Zwozdesky’s prospects seem to be sinking like the proverbial lead balloon.
Never mind, elevators can change direction. But for the moment, Mar seems set to enter the race on a buoyant note.
This post also appears on David Climenhaga’s blog, Alberta Diary.
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