Sundre's newly elected Wildrose MLA says he plans to start grilling the Redford government right away on key issues facing the riding and the province.
“I'm going to be representing the people in this constituency to the very best of my ability,” Joe Anglin said. “I really do plan to try to hold this government accountable, particularly on the fiscal side and dealing with property rights and electricity. We have a government that says everyone's electricity bills are just fine and that's not my position or the position or anyone else I've ever met.
“Certainly health care is a huge issue for a lot of Albertans and seniors is a big one two.”
In Monday's election vote, Anglin garnered 7,647 votes, defeating sixth-term incumbent Ty Lund, who garnered 6,145 votes, Liberal challenger Mason Sisson, who got 703 votes, and NDP candidate Doreen Broska, who garnered 422 votes.
On a provincial level, at press time the Alison Redford Tories won 61 seats, the Wildrose 17, the Liberals five and the NDP four.
As for his party's unsuccessful bid to be elected government, Anglin said, “I believe fear was a big motivator. I just have that suspicion, but I don't have any relevant facts to base that on. Your guess is as good as anyone else's guess.
“When we break down the numbers in a few weeks, we will look at those things and try to figure out what when on.”
Anglin commended Lund, who was first elected in 1989, for his long time service to the constituents of the riding.
“I have nothing but respect for Ty Lund,” he said. “He is the only cabinet minister that I ever sat down with who treated me with dignity and respect. He's a true gentleman.”
During the campaign Anglin said if elected MLA he would work to reform the electricity billing system in Alberta.
“What we've done is allow the companies to basically gouge the public and made it legal,” he said. “We allow the generators to bid the price up seven times against themselves and that's absolutely ridiculous.
“If I am elected I will change that. If the public was aware of what was going on they would be screaming even louder every time they pay their electric bills.”
Ty Lund did not return repeated calls seeking comment.
Liberal candidate Sisson says while he is disappointed that he wasn't elected in the riding, he is very pleased that that the Wildrose Alliance did not form the government.
“I am very relieved that the Wildrose has not done well at all,” Sisson said.
“I'm disappointed with the amount of strategic voting that went on, with people who would have supported the Liberals but decided to vote for the PCs.”
Sisson said he would like to see Albertans “give Alison Redford a fair chance to govern” during the next term.
“The six months she was in wasn't long enough to give her a fair chance and I hope she now gets that chance,” he said.
NDP candidate Broska says she hopes Anglin will make a concerted effort to represent all his constituents and not just his party's interest over the next four years.
“He has some big shoes to fill in this riding, and Mr. Lund can be proud of the time he served the riding over the years,” said Broska.
At the provincial level, Premier Redford said Monday's result gives her a clear mandate.
“What it does show is that people are engaged, that they are excited about the future of the province and the policies I hope that our party has put forward,” said Redford.
In the 2008 election, Ty Lund garnered 62.3 per cent of the vote, easily defeating challengers Wild Rose candidate Fanie Van Heerden (11.6 per cent) Liberal Norm McDougall (8.5), Green Party's Jennifer Ripley (7.0), Social Credit's Wilf Tricker (6.5) and NDP candidate Jorge Sousa (2.8).
