Six weeks after stepping down as Rajan Sawhney's campaign chair, Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt has announced she is now backing Danielle Smith for the United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership.
In a social media post on Sept. 24, Pitt said she has been swayed by Smith's "steadfast stance on freedom, health-care reform, and an Alberta-first strategy despite opposition from the 'establishment.'
“Danielle is the change we've all been looking for and our future is bright with her at the helm,” Pitt wrote.
Smith, who polls have tipped as the front-runner, officially welcomed Pitt to her team of supporters the same day, after being introduced by the Airdrie-East MLA at a speaking engagement.
“I am so grateful for the recent endorsement by MLA for Airdrie-East Angela Pitt! Welcome to the team Angela and I look forward to working with you to put Alberta First,” Smith wrote on social media.
The endorsement is a reversal by Pitt, who previously acted as Sawhney's campaign chair in the Calgary-North East MLA's bid for the UCP leadership. Pitt stepped down from the role in early August, saying she left the campaign to focus on local issues within the consituency.
“During that time, I consulted with party members and there was overwhelming support for Danielle,” Pitt said in an email to the Airdrie City View. “It is no secret that the values Danielle holds closely match my own and that she is the leader we’ve all been searching for these last few years.”
Pitt went on to say she was one of the first MLAs to endorse the Free Alberta strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic and Smith is the only UCP leadership candidate vowing to take the values of that strategy forward in the event she becomes premier.
“She takes freedom seriously and doesn’t have blinders on when it comes to the fixing healthcare,” she said. “Danielle is smart, collaborative, bold and in the best position to lead this province for a better Alberta and I’m happy to lend my support to her and her campaign.”
Pitt's endorsement of Smith means both of Airdrie's area MLAs are supporting the former Wildrose Party leader for the UCP's top seat, as Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie has also previously announced his support for Smith.
Seven candidates are vying for the UCP leadership role, which will be determined during a UCP membership vote on Oct. 6. The winning candidate will also become Alberta's premier.
The candidates, all but one of whom (Smith) are current UCP MLAs, include Smith, Sawhney, Brian Jean, Travis Toews, Leela Aheer, Todd Loewen, and Rebecca Schulz.
