Another loyal UCP member bites the dust..A “fed up” George Hillier is walking away — again — from the party after receiving confirmation Monday that he can’t vote in the leadership election. .It’s not for lack of trying..“I sent an email 13 days ago to report my ballot missing. No one called back. No one emailed. No one reached out. It’s like they don’t care,” said Hillier who hails from Duchess, north of Brooks.. George HillierGeorge Hillier .“I called Thursday and after a half hour on hold it automatically went to the option to leave a message, which I did. Same thing Friday. No one got back to me. I know of lots of other people having issues getting their ballots.”.“It’s an absolute disgrace that UCP members should have to go through this.”.Hillier works at a camp in Fort St. John BC, so can’t vote in-person..“I leave Tuesday morning. I reported it in enough time to have this dealt with, but I’ve been ignored,” he said Monday..“I have a 13-hour drive Tuesday. I’m willing to go out of my way to pick up the ballot. They won’t allow me to do that. They can only send one express. What good is that?”.Hillier reached out to the Todd Loewen and Danielle Smith campaigns for help. Both contacted the party on his behalf..Hillier received a call from UCP Executive Director Dustin van Vugt Monday..“He said the ballot was sent to my old Brooks address. I specifically gave them my new address in Duchess and they went off the address on my credit card. No way I can vote now. He’s taking zero responsibility and I want no part of a party that blames others. When I bought my membership, I left a note with my new address.”.“Van Vugt said they can’t get me one in time. It’s a lame excuse if you ask me.”.“Full disclosure — I did hang up on Dustin this morning. He seemed to snicker after every time he talked to me,” alleged Hillier..UCP membership increased to 123,915 from 60,000 at the start of the leadership race in June. The growth could account for glitches in getting ballots out..However, Hillier argued two weeks is ample time for a response to the form he filled out about his missing ballot on the UCP Leadership website. And two days is ample time to return phone calls..“I’m upset with the office that handles the ballots and their lack of respect in reaching out to people.”.Hillier also wondered why it took pressure from the Loewen and Smith campaigns to finally get a call that won’t get him a ballot..He’s “done” with the UCP..“I was initially happy when Kenney got elected and supported unity. Then I saw what a fool he is and couldn’t support him any longer. I swore I’d never vote UCP again after Kenney’s disaster. By no means am I Liberal or NDP.”.“I’ve been a Conservative my whole life. (Premier Jason) Kenney’s pi**ed a lot of people off and drove a lot of people away, myself included.”.“I’ve been very vocal against Kenney on social media.”.“We thought we were getting a pitbull like Ralph Klein because he talked a good game.”.In May 2021, now Independents Central Peace Notley MLA Loewen and Cypress- Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes stood up to Kenney and got kicked out of the UCP because they allegedly “divided the party and undermined leadership.”.“Because of Todd and Drew standing up, I thought there’s some hope. I had no intention of going back.”.Samantha Steinke, Loewen’s leadership campaign manager, said Hillier isn’t alone..“We’ve had a bunch of people reach out to us. There are people still waiting. But I talked with Dustin. The only options that I’ve been told there are for obviously the mail-in for them to resend the ballot or to vote in-person. That’s what their rules allow.”.“I think it’s probably just with the amount of members, there’s bound to be some error which is unfortunate.” .“I don’t think it’s intentional. People opening the ballots and verifying, they say it’s all being done to the highest standards. I don’t think the party wants to go through more turmoil.”.The Holding MLAs Accountable Facebook page has a post offering help to members who have not received ballots..The problem isn’t extensive, said UCP spokesman Dave Prisco..“There is a small percentage of people who for a variety of reasons may not have received a ballot.”.Main reasons include an incomplete or wrong address on their membership application..“Regardless of the reason, if a member reaches out to say they did not get one then we will send them a new ballot right away.”.Ballots must be received by October 3 at 5 p.m..In-person voting locations will be set up October 6 from 8 a.m. at five Alberta locations..The results will be announced October 6.
