Guest Speaker:   Rob Dunseith explained a new vocational challenge that he has recently taken on.

 

Rob explained that he will be the Chief returning officer for the PC Alberta Leadership election.  Rob gave some background as to the leadership election process changing from the one delegate - one vote procedure that was in place for the last few elections to the delegate procedure that was adopted earlier this year.  This means that each each of the constituency associations will be electing delegates that will then vote at the final convention.  The candidate with more than fifty percent of the votes (after as many polls as necessary) will elected as the next leader of the party.

 

As the Chief electoral officer, he is responsible to: 

• oversee the election process;
• be responsible for the conduct of the election including election day(s) and for certifying the election results, whether the Leader is chosen by election or by acclamation;
• preside over the election process of the Leadership Selection Process at the Constituency Association and affiliated bodies levels;
• authorize the appointment of as many Deputy Returning Officers as are reasonably required for the conduct of the election at the Constituency Association and affiliated bodies level; and,
• ensure the results of all leadership and delegate selection votes held within Constituency Associations and affiliated bodies are properly recorded and filed with the Leadership Election Committee.

As we have seen in the news lately, this is a very important position in the Leadership Selection Process and Rob's experience and legal knowledge will be called upon many times over the upcoming months.  Congratulations Rob, and thanks for providing the background behind this important democratic process.