In leadership contests, what you don’t see often matters more

The old cliche suggesting party leaderships are like icebergs — nine-tenths of which are unseen by most — applies to Saskatchewan’s current simultaneous leadership hunts.

Let us begin with the NDP leadership, where — notwithstanding what seems to be a rather large policy/philosophical gap between Ryan Meili and Trent Wotherspoon — the surface appears cordial.

But what you need to know about internal leadership contests is that you can only disagree on so much before: (a) doing untold harm to the greater good of the party by being super critical of your rival (and potential new boss), and; (b) doing even greater damage to your campaign by alienating potential voting party members.

So what we see above the surface is a generally uninteresting combination of safe, dull policy pronouncements, student-council-election-style endorsements and sometimes nauseating humblebrag that combines with political passiveaggressive behaviour when the aforementioned can no longer be contained below the surface.

The latter recently bubbled up in the NDP campaign in the form of a couple strange Twitter replies from Cathy Sproule (who is the lone caucus member supporting Ryan Meili) to Wotherspoon’s announcement on mental health policy. Sproule replied to a comment: “This is (NDP health critic) Danielle Chartier’s work, she has done an amazing job on this.”

Harmless observation by Sproule? Perhaps. But in front of the backdrop of someone campaigning for Meili and someone many assumed would be picked as interim leader (as opposed to Nicole Sarauer who is officially neutral, but close to Wotherspoon), it didn’t exactly come across as harmless.

In fact, one doesn’t have to dive deep below the surface to find old rivalries between the NDP’s left/ newer-voices supporting Meili and the old guard/more-right clearly supporting Wotherspoon.

However, what may be even more fascinating is the belowthe-waterline activity in the Sask. Party. Consider the campaign of Alanna Koch.

Above the surface, what exists is a Koch campaign that would seem both uninteresting and not very well run.

Having previously told the Prince Albert Daily Herald she “wouldn’t want to make promises” she can’t keep, Koch sought to rectify this by unveiling last week positions like reinstating mandate letters for cabinet ministers and paying lip service to transparency and accountability.

But this was quickly followed by her undying affection for everything Brad Wall, followed by a strange recitation of her “very authentic” leadership style in which “I come across as genuine and sincere.” If this is so, it’s usually something you don’t have to tell people. Or at least, saying so isn’t something Wall viewed as necessary.

This contrasts with far more substantive policy announcements from Tina Beaudry-Mellor (quickly becoming what little social conscience voice there is in this Sask. Party leadership race) on First Nations/northern communities issues including economic development, high suicide rates, domestic violence and low high school graduation rates.

Even Scott Moe’s campaign, that has had little in the way of policy, announced last week a deficit-eradication plan along with reinstating the PST exemptions on crop, hail and life insurance. Again, contrast that with Koch’s pronouncements last week that she really didn’t have a deficit-reduction/tax plan beyond what the Sask. Party government is already advocating.

However, before being left with the wrong impression that Koch’s campaign is a disaster, consider how well it’s working below the surface.

Besides the quiet support of many in the allegedly neutral executive council, Koch is constantly getting knowing nods from the business/agriculture/ oil sector elite within the party. And she continues to campaign at a feverish pace in rural communities where the Sask. Party votes exist.

All this has those other camps grumbling — especially some in Moe’s camp, already stung by the mysterious disclosure of his past driving record.

What you see above the waterline doesn’t tell the whole story.