Delegates greeted with ads attacking one of their own

RED DEER The executive director of the United Conservative Party is playing down the appearance of attack-style advertising targeted at a female candidate at the party’s convention this weekend.

Janice Harrington told Postmedia on Saturday no party rules were broken by those who distributed cards criticizing Natalie Pon, pursuing the Edmonton director post.

“Sometimes things can get a little heated, and sometimes people can do things to express a point of view, and I think that’s what this is about,” Harrington said.

“We’re a big-tent party. There are a lot of diverse views in the party and people are expressing that.”

The cards in question are bright red on one side and declare that Pon “supports the carbon tax.”

On the other side is a copy of tweet posted by the candidate in March 2017, and a message urging voters to “Say no to Pon.”

The cards lay strewn on tables at the UCP convention Friday night, some ripped in half where Pon supporters had taken issue with the attack ads.

Such publicly aggressive tactics against another party member are unusual at a political convention, and stood as a departure from the general feeling of a new group working together.

Very little else at the UCP convention illustrated much tension inside a party formed by merging opposing political forces.

Harrington is neutral in her position with the party.

The cards will either help or hinder Pon, she said.

“She’d be an excellent continuation on our executive, but the process will happen the way it happens, and people will campaign the way they want to campaign.”

Pon could not be reached for comment.