Bracko launches campaign for senator

Monday wasn't just an election kickoff for local candidates seeking to become provincial MLAs. A St. Albert city councillor also launched his campaign for a possible seat in Canada's Senate.

Len Bracko is running as an independent candidate to become one of Alberta's three senators-in-waiting. That election runs concurrently with the provincial election called by Premier Alison Redford Monday morning. The election itself will be held April 23.

"I'm really honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to run for the Senate of Canada," Bracko said a few hours after the writ was officially dropped.

Alberta hasn't held an election for senators-in-waiting since 2004. Nine candidates have entered the race. Of that total three are Progressive Conservative candidates, three are Wildrose, one is from The Evergreen Party and two are independents.

The senate candidates face a unique challenge compared to MLA hopefuls — their constituency is the entire province. Bracko said he has a strong organization in place and plans to use social media tools to reach out to the rest of Alberta. But he also plans to spend a lot of time on the road.

"I'll hit the road and that's what I love doing," the former Liberal MLA said. "I've done it as a critic and it's been so successful."

Bracko will try to reach as many different places in the province as possible, but says he will focus on Calgary and Edmonton in his campaign. But running as an independent will be difficult for Bracko, compared to the PC and Wildrose candidates. Those six individuals have the parties working for them — the three Wildrose senate hopefuls will be travelling in leader Danielle Smith's campaign bus.

"I do face the power of the parties, to put it very bluntly, but I believe in hard work and getting out there," Bracko said.

Similar experience

Before assuming the mantle of Wildrose candidate in Barrhead-Westlock-Morinville, Link Byfield placed fourth in voting when the last senate election was held in 2004. The Calahoo-Riviere Qui Barrre native said he considered running for the senate again before deciding to run as an MLA.

"I would love to see that institution reformed but then I realized if we don't form a government, we're not going to be able to reform the senate or anything else," Byfield said.

Campaigning as an independent in 2004 was difficult, Byfield recalled. He had a great deal of name recognition from his time as publisher and editor of Alberta Report magazine but had no massive campaign war chest to fund his campaign. The most advertising he did was buying some radio advertising time.

"You can't door-knock from one side of the province to the other, and if you can't, what do you do?" Byfield said. "If you set up a tour, it will cost a fortune that you don't have."

Bracko is looking at more than just Alberta — he said he wants to pursue partnerships as well.

"What we need in the senate is not just protecting the interest of the regions, but also to build partnerships, to make things happen," Bracko said.

If he wins one of the three senator-in-waiting spots, Bracko might not have to wait long before an appointment comes — Senator Bert Brown, who has served since 2007, faces mandatory retirement next March, while Joyce Fairbairn will retire in November 2014.