Political organizers are fielding calls about whether they’d be willing to join federal Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner’s campaign, should she decide to run for the Alberta United Conservative Party leadership, sources told the Western Standard..The revelation follows a survey sent to UCP and Conservative party members in Alberta earlier this month, in which recipients were asked, "If any of the following candidates were to run, who would be your FIRST CHOICE for United Conservative Party leader?".Rempel Garner’s name was fourth on the list.. Survey .The survey was sent from DesLauriers Public Affairs, a polling firm operated by Fred Dolorey. Dolorey is the executive campaign chair for Patrick Brown’s federal leadership campaign, in which Rempel Garner is co-chair..Rempel Garner's office did not respond to calls or emails from the Western Standard asking if she had commissioned the survey, or if she is planning to run for the UCP leadership and premiership..One longtime political strategist, who spoke to the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity, said staff called on behalf Rempel Garner and asked if he would join her UCP leadership campaign, should she decide to run. He said he expects Rempel Garner would launch her campaign after June 3, the last day Brown can sell Conservative party memberships..A longtime political campaigner said he fielded calls from both Rempel Garner personally and her senior staffer, Sean Schnell. Both were seeking to "gather different perspectives" about the what a UCP bid in Alberta would look like, the source told the Western Standard..A third source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Rempel Garner is "testing the waters.".Should she run for the UCP leadership, Rempel Garner would not have to resign as a federal MP unless she sought a seat in the Alberta legislature in a by-election or general election..Rempel Garner was first elected to represent Calgary-Nose Hill in 2011, and has been reelected in every election since with over 55% of the vote..She’s positioned herself as a progressive Conservative on some issues, and an advocate for Alberta and the rights of gun owners. .Federal Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs' name was also included on the survey. Her office told the Western Standard Stubbs did not commission the survey and does not know why her name was included on it.
