Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Kerry Towle phoned her husband Brad and her mom.
She also checked in with her political circle, but the family calls were more important.
Then on Monday, Nov. 24, Kerry left the Wildrose party caucus in the Alberta legislature and joined the Progressive Conservatives.
Instantly, she was accused of betraying Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith, with whom she was particularly close.
In the interviews that followed, one message stood out: Kerry Towle wants to give Jim Prentice the opportunity to prove himself as leader of Alberta.
It might work, as long as Jim remembers he needs Kerry Towle more than she needs him.
Kerry comes from the top of the political gene pool.
She vanquished a good cabinet minister, Lucien “Luke” Ouellette, to win her seat in the legislature.
As Wildrose critic for Human Services and Seniors, her brand became that of a tough, incisive advocate for society's vulnerable – not an easy role to play in the Wildrose sanctuary for rednecks.
She is the poster woman for Central Alberta hard work and family optimism as realty agent and, with husband Brad, a turkey farmer.
Until last week, she was an outspoken critic of Conservative decisions, policies and even the new premier.
She went door to door nearly every day, after the writ dropped, for Wildrose candidates in the recent byelections.
She was as dismayed as any other Albertan when Danielle Smith waved a white flag, and said she wouldn't survive as Wildrose leader if she didn't win the next election.
She was cornered by the right wing of her party when she said that she could support an amended private Liberal gay-straight alliance bill to protect young people in schools.
Kerry Towle was becoming a promising politician in a party that is falling apart and the collapse would have destroyed her political career.
The alternative is to give Premier Jim a chance.
So here's the deal, Kerry.
I won't call Jim “Lipstick” as long as you continue to be an effective advocate for the vulnerable in the Conservative party.
- Frank Dabbs is a veteran business and political journalist, author of three biographies, and a contributor to, researcher or editor of half a dozen books.
