Veteran Webber wins Tory nod
A longtime Calgary MLA has won the federal Conservative nomination in the Calgary Confederation riding.
Len Webber beat out Susanne DiCocco for the nomination and will represent the Tories in the 2015 federal election.
He announced his win on Saturday night on Twitter, saying, “Thank you to my volunteers and supporters in # yyc #yycconfed! Let’s get ready for 2015!”
He also thanked DiCocco, a newcomer to politics, for running a “spirited campaign.”
Webber, 53, was elected as an MLA in 2004 for Calgary- Foothills and was a member of Ed Stelmach’s Progressive Conservative cabinet. He now represents the provincial riding as an independent, after leaving the PC caucus in March in protest of then- premier Alison Redford.
It’s unclear when Webber will resign his post as MLA, though there has been speculation he could step down immediately. Premier Jim Prentice, who needs a seat in the legislature, has said he wants to run in a northwest Calgary riding.
Prentice is expected to announce Monday where he will run.
While Webber couldn’t be reached for comment Saturday night, he said on Thursday that he hadn’t yet been approached by Prentice.
“Phone me on Monday morning and I will have had time to really think about it,” he told the Herald.
The Calgary Confederation riding was created through redistribution in 2012. It used to be part of the electoral districts of Calgary Centre-North and Calgary West.