Pipestone Flyer
On Wednesday, March 12 in Leduc, an eager group of regional voters attended a Meet & Greet hosted by long-time Leduc County resident Sharon Smith, the Wildrose candidate for Leduc-Beaumont.
The new Busy Bean Café on Leduc’s Main Street (50th Avenue) offers a comfy and pleasant décor. On this night, the group of guests was abuzz with the goal of the evening, to hear the views of Wildrose candidate Sharon Smith. With dynamic energy and genuine friendliness, Mrs. Smith welcomed each guest while her campaign manager husband Rick Smith, offered to new arrivals her colorful and well-designed brochure displaying the Wildrose Party (WRP)’s mandate, and promoting Sharon Smith’s new website, www.Sharon-smith.com.
Mrs. Smith is well-versed in all issues and initiatives in Leduc County, the City of Leduc and the Town of Beaumont. She is a strong advocate for seniors, vulnerable populations and Albertans who want their interests represented fairly.
The first order of business was to introduce members of her Constituency Association. Vern Ansorger, Ralph and Lois Shute, Joel and Sarah Hamilton and Richard Nickel are keen Wildrose Party members and devoted volunteers supporting Sharon Smith.
In anticipation of a provincial election, the Wildrose Party has worked diligently to prepare for a Wildrose Party Leadership Election scheduled for March 28. Three candidates are in the running: Brian Jean, Drew Barnes and Linda Osinchuk. This is the first time in the Wildrose Party’s history that two of the leadership candidates hail from Northern Alberta. Although all three Wildrose leadership candidates were invited, the only one available to attend was Linda Osinchuk, former Strathcona County mayor.
Linda Osinchuk came to offer her support of Sharon Smith and delivered a short, articulate speech that bode well for her potential as the future Wildrose leader, mentioning Albertans’ wish for change and fiscal accountability. Sharon Smith shared that, “it is critical for Albertans to do their own research and to educate themselves on the track record and mandate of all candidates who hope to become the new leader of the WRP. The same applies to the upcoming election of Alberta’s next Premier”.
On short notice, Sharon Smith was invited to represent the Wildrose Party at the Alberta Teachers Association’s Political Engagement Forum of Saturday, March 14. Facing hundreds of guests in the Hotel Macdonald ballroom, she shared the podium with interim Liberal leader Dr. David Swann, NDP Education Critic Devon Bilrous and ATA president Mark Ramsankar. Mrs. Smith earned a very positive tweet from Paula Simmons, veteran writer with the Edmonton Journal. “Sharon Smith was quite solid in her opening remarks, holding her own with experienced MLAs.”
All in all, this Wildrose Meet & Greet was a dynamic and informative affair. It is now up to Alberta voters to become knowledgeable and to vote when the time comes.
Photo: Leduc-Beaumont Wildrose candidate Sharon Smith (L) and Wildrose Leader hopeful Linda Osinchuk pose with their campaign managers, Rick Smith and Vic Bidzinski at her recent Meet & Greet at Busy Bean Café in Leduc. Photo by Dominique Vrolyk.