Wildrose Alliance leadership candidates face upbeat crowd

An optimistic trio of candidates vied for the leadershipof the Wildrose Alliance during a debateWednesday night.

The candidates faced a full house of about 300 people in Calgary.

The mood among the candidates was confident coming off the party's surprise win Monday over the governing Alberta Progressive Conservative candidate in the Calgary-Glenmore byelection.

Paul Hinman, the newly elected legislaturemember and the outgoing party president, greeted a cheering and applauding crowd.

"This party is getting bigger and better and growing," he said. "And Premier [Ed] Stelmach: the end's in sight for you."

Just after the debate ended, Jeff Willerton pulled out of the race, saying he would support candidate Mark Dyrholm.

The high turnout for the debate is a sign Albertans are ready for change,Willerton said.

"Albertans don't elect governments, they elect dynasties," he said. "And when they are finished with them, they throw them out and bring in fresh bloodand new vision. And we are overdue for a change."

Candidate Danielle Smith said Hinman's victory has left the party optimistic.

"Winning that byelection really gave us a lot of momentum," Smith said. "I think people really saw that the Wildrose Alliance is a conservative party, a mainstream party and is one that people on masse are looking at as another alternative to the governing Tories."

After nearly 40 years in power, the Conservatives have lost sight of their political rootsm she said.

"They have drifted way off course with their overspending, with a royalty framework that has undermined our investment climate in Alberta, with a health-care system that continues to crumble. And if we can offer a voice with sensible alternatives that can bring them back I would consider that a victory as well."

Changeis long overdue, Dyrholm said.

"We don't expect history to just repeat itself but Albertans do elect people out in waves, and I believe this is the beginning of a wave of change and then I believe it is up to us to really earn Albertans' trust if we want to be a dynasty."

The party will electa leader Oct. 17 at a convention in Edmonton.