Webber, DiCocco to seek Tory nods
Federal Tories in the new riding of Calgary Confederation will choose between a veteran MLA and a newcomer to electoral politics Saturday in a Conservative nomination battle in which personal history is a key factor.
Len Webber, who represents part of the riding provincially as the MLA for Calgary-Foothills, stresses his roots and experience as major selling points in his campaign to move up the political ladder.
“I grew up here and I care about this community, and one thing I will bring to Ottawa is the fact that I know the concerns of the people of the area,” he said in an interview Thursday. The 53-year-old Webber, who was elected as a Progressive Conservative MLA in 2004 and served in Ed Stelmach’s cabinet, contrasts his local connections to those of his rival for the Tory nod, Susanne DiCocco, who came to Calgary only a few years ago. But DiCocco said she’s a Calgarian by choice, just like thousands of others who come to the city each year.
And she said that after the seemingly endless controversies emanating from the provincial government, voters aren’t anxious to promote an MLA.
“My advantage is that I don’t have the legacy of provincial politics that he brings,” said the 39-year-old DiCocco.
DiCocco said her work as a consultant with the energy industry and the federal government is the kind of experience voters want.
“They’re looking for someone with new ideas, with a new approach to doing things and a fresh face for our riding,” she said.
Webber has had a tumultuous six months in provincial politics. In March, he left the PC caucus to sit as an independent in protest of the continued leadership of thenpremier Alison Redford, whom he described as a bully with entitlement issues.
The departure served as one of the catalysts for Redford’s resignation later that month, but Webber chose not to return to the Tory caucus or cross the floor to the Opposition Wildrose Party.
The MLA said the fallout from his defiance of Redford has been more positive than negative.
“At many doors, people thank me for what I did,” said Webber.
While federal Conservative nomination battles often have an overlay of the PC-Wildrose rivalry, both Webber and DiCocco lay claim to supporters from both sides of the provincial divide.
One key question if Webber wins the federal nomination is when he will resign his seat in the provincial legislature. Premier Jim Prentice needs a seat and wants to run in a northwest Calgary riding. He told reporters Thursday in Edmonton that he would reveal where he will run in a byelection on Monday.
The Calgary-Foothills riding is part of Prentice’s old federal riding, prompting speculation that Webber — who will have to give up his seat once the writ is dropped for the 2015 federal election — could step down immediately to clear the way for Prentice.
Webber said he hadn’t been approached by Prentice and that he was trying not to favour either Wildrose or the provincial Tories. But he acknowledged he could resign his seat sooner rather than later.
“Phone me on Monday morning and I will have had time to really think about it,” said Webber.
Calgary Confederation was created through redistribution, and with the University of Calgary and several inner-city neighbourhoods within its borders, it is a target for the federal Liberals as they try to make a breakthrough in the city in 2015.
Liberal candidate Matt Grant said he’s already been running hard as the Tories duke it out.
“It’s a progressive riding,” said Grant. “Those communities are looking for a stronger voice that will have a seat at the table.”