Three St. Albert politicians to watch in the ‘Twenty-teens’

Your blog author with St. Albert MLA Ken Allred, left, and Conservative Man of the Future Doug Horner, right, both of whom figure in this story. Below: James Burrows and Nolan Crouse.

This column ran in yesterday’s edition of the Saint City News.

In politics, timing is everything. Without great timing, the best platform, the most memorable one-liners and the snappiest Website add up to nothing much come election day.

So here’s a prediction: the time is right in the “Twenty-teens” for three St. Albert politicians to make a big splash on the provincial scene. Love ’em or loath ’em, the planets are in alignment for these three gentlemen (yes, they’re all men) to rock our political world.

No. 3: Doug Horner

Three years ago, would anyone have believed Doug Horner, the low-key Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly for Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert, would be taken seriously as a contender for premier of Alberta? He is now, and deserves to be.

The word on the political street is that Mr. Horner could be the guy to watch if Premier Ed Stelmach’s fortunes sag much lower, as seems inevitable.

As the premier’s popularity heads south, the capable minister of advanced education plays politics with a deft blend of confidence and loyalty. It’s no mean trick in Mr. Stelmach’s cabinet to be both a bright light and no threat to the boss. Mr. Horner pulled it off, and as a result he’s now deputy premier.

If – or more likely, when – the Tory powers-that-be decide Mr. Stelmach must go, Mr. Horner is well situated to inherit the mantle. Timing is everything.

No 2: James Burrows

City councillor James Burrows has no shortage of vocal detractors, but he has one quality that drives them nuts. He knows how to get elected.

You can’t miss Mr. Burrows when he walks into a room. Even if your eyesight is failing, you’ll hear him! He gets noticed, and getting noticed gets him elected.

It’s no secret Mr. Burrows would like to run for something bigger than city council, but opportunities for an Alberta politician identified as a Liberal are limited, even in a free-thinking jurisdiction like St. Albert.

If he were to change his political stripes, however, that could change quickly. And the rumour won’t go away that Mr. Burrows is eyeing the Wildrose Alliance nomination for St. Albert.

He’d be a good catch for the Alliance – an articulate politician with a record of winning who isn’t identified with the party’s scary right. A youthful 47 with energy to spare, many voters would compare Burrows favourably with Conservative MLA Ken Allred, who will be 70 this year.

Timing is everything. If Mr. Burrows can get the Wildrose nomination, the timing could be perfect for him.

No. 1: Nolan Crouse

C’mon, you say, Nolan Crouse isn’t leaving the mayor’s office any time soon. If you did, you’d be saying the same thing as Mayor Crouse. The MBA consultant and sometime hockey coach says he’ll run for mayor of St. Albert two or three more times – and, this year, his re-election seems a certainty.

Mr. Crouse comes coated with Teflon – little sticks to His Honour, no matter how mad it makes the Taxpayers’ Association. Even as they grouse about the cost of utilities and the details of curbside recycling, most voters think Mr. Crouse has done a pretty good job keeping tax increases down, council in line and services on-line during an economically challenging time.

He looks the part, never utters an embarrassing word and articulates a vision that makes sense to most voters, even if it gives some developers the vapours. So why wouldn’t he stay here forever?

Because there are opportunities for a capable politician like Mr. Crouse, that’s why. If Horner looks like a potential premier, imagine what one of the opposition parties could do in these dissatisfied times with a leader like Mr. Crouse! If anyone at Liberal HQ was paying attention, they’d start dialing right now.

Premier Crouse? Unlikely, you say? Probably. But remember this: timing is everything!