Sheila Taylor resigns CBE trustee job to run for Wildrose Party

Sheila Taylor says she will resign her seat as a trustee for the Calgary Board of Education after the school board turned down her request to take an unpaid leave of absence while running for the Wildrose Party in Calgary-West.

Taylor issued a statement through the Wildrose Party Friday and said her resignation would take effect immediately.

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"When I announced my candidacy for Wildrose earlier this week, I said I planned to take an unpaid leave of absence from my duties on the CBE," Taylor said in the press release.

"However, this morning I was informed that the CBE does not believe the School Act permits me to take a leave during the election campaign."

Taylor says she is disappointed by the decision not to allow her to take an unpaid leave, butshe respects the CBE's interpretation of the rules.

However, Taylor says sheknows of at least two cases where other school trustees were able to run for another level of public office.

The school board did say that it would have approved a request from Taylor to be absent during the three meetings scheduled during the byelection campaign, but that would have meant she would still be paid.

'That's the right thing to do'

"I was happy to not take my pay, and I absolutely think that's the right thing to do," she said.

The school board says other trustees will cover the duties of Taylor's vacant seat in Wards 11 and 13 until a byelection is called.

Taylor said she has not decided if she will run again if she does not winthe Calgary-West vote.

Calgary-West is one of fourridingswhereAlbertanswill head to the polls on Oct. 27.

The riding became vacant recently when former Tory MLA Ken Hughes resigned.

The PC candidate for Calgary-West is Mike Ellis and the NDP candidate is Brian Malkinson. The Liberals have not yet declared a candidate.