Frustrations grow as Nathan Neudorf recall petitioner seemingly disappears

Frustrations are mounting, as the organizer of the recall petition targeting Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf has seemingly disappeared.

It’s been more than three weeks since the recall petition for Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf was issued.

In that time, there’s been little to no word from the petition’s organizer.

That’s left those who want to sign the petition confused and looking for answers.

“Part of it is there was a group that was very well-prepared to take this petition on, and unfortunately were a week behind applying, so they got turned down,” said Alberta Funds Public Schools petitioner Sheila King.

The petition was launched by a man named Ryan Tanner and made official by Elections Alberta on Nov. 25.

Since then, several people interested in canvassing for or signing the petition have tried to contact Tanner with no response.

“We have been stonewalled. There’s a lot of words to describe what has been going on. I guess stonewall would be one of them. A sham would be another,” said Lethbridge Raging Grannies member Barb Phillips.

Phillips and her friend heard back from Tanner after trying several times to get in touch with him.

They want to canvass for the recall.

A meeting was set up between the two and a man named Mike at a local coffee shop.

But when they met Mike, they said he had little knowledge of the recall attempt or how petitions even work.

He told them he received the recall papers from Neudorf’s office.

“So, here we are three weeks later today, and we’re still asking the same questions. Who is Ryan Tanner? Who is Mike? Because we didn’t get a last name. And what’s going on?” said Phillips.

It’s unclear if anyone has been able to sign the petition.

The lack of progress has led to accusations that the recall organizer started the petition to stop a real attempt to recall Neudorf.

It’s one of 23 such efforts in the province to remove MLAs.

Neudorf has denied any connection, saying in a statement, “I have no relationship to Ryan Tanner, nor am I involved in my own recall campaign.”

But the swirling rumours could lead to some blowback for Neudorf.

“Some people will at least view that something has happened here, and they’ll look for someone to blame for this. The best way for this to be cleared up would be if Ryan Tanner were to actually appear and look like he was actually making some effort,” said political scientist Trevor Harrison.

CTV News has made multiple attempts to contact Tanner but has not received a response.

The signatures for the petition must be submitted to Elections Alberta by Feb. 23.

It would take 13,207 signatures for the petition to be successful.