Former Wildrose leader Brian Jean has received a series of endorsements during the first week of his campaign to become the leader of the new United Conservative Party, and one from Airdrie MLA Angela Pitt is among them.

Pitt threw her support to Jean when he announced his plan to run for leader earlier this week in Airdrie.  Pitt says the importance of this leadership race can't be understated.

"I do believe that this first leader of the United Conservative Party is such an important role to fill.  I think it needs to be Brian, I believe that it needs to be Brian and I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen."

Pitt says while doing that, she won't shirk her responsibilities in her own riding.  "I'm going to help Brian in any way, shape or form that I can.  I'm certainly not going to neglect my duties here locally as Airdrie's MLA."

Pitt believes there are many reasons why Jean is the right man to lead the party.  "One of the biggest things when people ask me this question that I like to tell them is that, Brian's a pretty good guy, he's a pretty regular, average Albertan who's done extraordinary things in his life and who's come through extraordinary things in his life.  Brian's a hunter, he's a trapper, he's a businessman, he's even a lawyer," then Pitt laughs, "we won't hold that against him."

She goes on, saying, "This is a man who's lost his son and still continued to run for leader of the Wildrose Party and the party at that time had veen quite decimated so I really admire that he was willing to put himself on the line for grassroots democracy.  Of course we saw Brian and his efforts through the Fort McMurray fire, losing his own home and still being there for the people and still being there for his party and for the people of Alberta."

Tomorrow (July 29) Jean may be joined in the race by, what many believe will be his greatest competition, former PC leader Jason Kenney who has said he'll make a special announcement in Edmonton in the morning and Calgary in the afternoon.  

Many have speculated that the leadership race could become an acrimonious affair.  Pitt hopes that's not the case.  "Well, time will tell.  I'm not sure how the leadership campaign is going to roll out.  I certainly hope, and I think everybody hopes that this is a good clean campaign.  It will be good to see, hopefully, many people running for the job, that's democracy and that's good." 

Looking ahead into her crystal ball, Pitt says, should Jean win the party leadership and go on to become Premier of the province, she'd be honoured to be asked to serve in his cabinet.  "I would certainly be honoured to receive such a posting from the leader and I know that the people of Airdrie would certainly benefit from such a position as well, so that is a good thing.  If I'm the right person and the best person for the job I would be honoured to hold such a posting."

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