Independent candidate Tim Hoven informed Alberta’s lieutenant-governor if elected he’s willing to form “some type of coalition government” with the UCP should there be a tie in the provincial election..In a letter to Salma Lakhani, the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre candidate said he’d support the UCP so she could ask the party — “not the NDP” — to form government..This wouldn’t involve “crossing the floor,” he said. Hoven would remain sitting an Independent MLA..The May 29 election is expected to be a tight race..Hoven entered the race as an Independent to challenge former UCP House leader Jason Nixon after being disqualified from challenging him in the nomination..Hoven was booted on the grounds he registered on an allegedly racist social media platform he hadn’t signed onto for years..Alberta Premier Danielle Smith demoted Nixon to backbencher status when she named her cabinet..“Our opponents are out trying to convince people that a vote for Tim Hoven is actually a vote for Rachel Notley. And that’s a very fear-based, powerful message,” he claimed..“Over 15 months ago, the people of Rimbey-Rocky-Mountain House Sundre were told their voices don’t matter.”.“This should alarm everyone… Now they’re trying to instill fear in hopes we will abandon our efforts to be heard.” .Vote-splitting will not happen, he said, pointing to riding polls that indicate NDP support stands at 15% and the Conservative vote at 75%. .Splitting the Conservative vote in half would still land the NDP in a “distant third” place..“Electing an Independent MLA cannot propel the NDP, nor jeopardize a UCP win,” said Hoven in response to concerns he’s heard from constituents..“If I knew I alone could cost a Conservative win in Alberta, I would not be running in this election. I’d do everything to stand in the way of an NDP win.”.Hoven said everything the NDP stands for contradicts his pillars — strong families, prosperous local communities, peaceful secure lives and individual rights, freedoms and responsibilities. .“We’re trying to convince people we are a true Conservative voice and a vote for Tim Hoven is a vote for conservative values.”.“Just going on the people we’re talking to and the momentum we’re feeling from the community, we’ve got a lot of people who want a change in local representation.”.Meanwhile, the province-wide NDP “smear” campaign to portray Smith as unfit to lead Alberta is getting mixed reaction..“I’m hearing there are people who are very supportive of Danielle and there’s a lot of people who are listening to the ads and believing them.”.“The other thing is, so many people are still mad at Jason Kenney’s management of the province for three years and they are adding that baggage onto Danielle when it should be firmly put on Jason Kenney’s back.”.Hoven said his candidacy is a “unique path to the Legislature.”.If elected his loyalties would be to constituents, not party while he upholds “the conservative based values” of the riding..Jennifer Johnson is also running as an Independent in nearby Lacombe-Ponoka..The UCP dropped Johnson after she made controversial comments allegedly comparing transgender children to mixing feces into cookies. .Smith has since said that “with a lot of work” Johnson could find her way into caucus if elected.
