Wildrose MLA leaves party to sit as independent

Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Joe Anglin. Photo courtesy Facebook.

Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Joe Anglin is leaving the Wildrose party to sit as an independent.

According to a post on Anglin’s Facebook page, he submitted a letter to Speaker Hon. Gene Zwozdesky Sunday  “and requested that I be seated as an independent MLA, effective immediately.

“It is no secret that I have been a round peg in a square hole in the Wildrose Party. I speak my mind. I bring different experiences and a different point of view to the caucus than my colleagues,” the statement read.

Anglin said it was a change in the Wildrose focus that prompted him to leave.

“Behind closed doors, the party has increasingly lost focus on its original mission of creating a true grassroots party. It has been caught up in a civil war between ideologues and pragmatists, with staff, volunteers, and even MLAs being placed into and forced out of positions with alarming frequency.

“As a result of poor management and infighting, there will be a motion today by my leader, Danielle Smith, to have me removed from caucus. To be honest, this is upsetting but not surprising. It was clear by the way the party executive mishandled my nomination process last June, and by the way they mismanaged the past four by-elections something needs to be corrected.”

He added that although he respects Wildrose leader Danielle Smith he is concerned with those around her.

“She is intelligent and thoughtful, but in saying this I have little respect for the people advising her. Ultimately the leader bears the responsibility for addressing these problems.”

Smith released a short statement saying that she accepted his resignation from the caucus.

“On behalf of my Wildrose caucus colleagues, I thank Mr. Anglin for his service to Albertans.”

As an independent MLA, Anglin said he will continue to serve his constituents and to try and improve the government.