Alberta politics is not a game of Six Degrees of Separation. It’s more like two moves to make a connection between various politicians – and here are three excellent examples that capture three premiers, and three would-be premiers.
This 2005 photo from the Edmonton Journal captures a young MLA Thomas Lukaszuk, fresh off winning a controversial recount tied to the 2004 general election; he only recaptured his seat in Edmonton-Castle Downs after three recounts by Elections Alberta and the courts. Here, Lukaszuk is shaking hands with then premier Ralph Klein, while future Premier Dave Hancock looks on. Future Speaker Gene Zwozdesky (left) and Klein’s chief of staff Rod Love (far left) also watch the action.
This photo from the Herald’s Gavin Young captures Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier (left) celebrating a new CTrain infrastructure announcement on May 19, 2009, as then Justice Minister Alison Redford, and then federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice, share a laugh. Redford became Alberta’s premier two years later, and then briefly appointed Bronconnier to be Alberta’s trade envoy in Washington, D.C. In 2010, Prentice left federal politics. He is now running in the Alberta PC leadership race to replace Redford.
Finally, this is a picture of PC leadership candidate Ric McIver from 2004, when he was acclaimed with three other Calgary aldermen: Druh Farrell, Bob Hawkesworth, and Barry Erskine (right). In 1986, Hawkesworth ran as an NDP candidate in Calgary-Mountain View and defeated the PC candidate of the day, Jim Prentice.
