Disappointment is the sentiment that MLA Garth Rowswell is expressing as an initial reaction to the resignation of Jason Kenney as UCP leader.
Kenney secured a slim “yes” vote in the leadership review but has decided to resign.
The Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA says he supports Kenney, but in his email to MyLloydminsterNow, he “understands his [Kenney’s] reasons for choosing” to step away.
“I am a supporter of Jason Kenney. I actually sent an email out to all the supporters in this constituency expressing that. I know there is division.”
Rowswell, who is in Calgary for a caucus meeting on Thursday, says they have completed about 90 per cent of the items proposed on their platform, but the opponents of Kenney are not happy with the manner in which he handled COVID.
“The people that are upset most are upset with him relative to COVID. And it was not just him, we all had our input. There were opposing views within caucus. There were opposing views within cabinet and they did the best with the information they got. So on balance, I’m really comfortable with what he has done.”
Rowswell reiterated that he thinks Kenney “did as good a job as anyone could have done.”
He has signalled Brian Jean and Danielle Smith as some of the names aiming for the top spot.