Kerry Towle

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Kerry Towle
MLA Kerry Towle.jpg
MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake
In office
April 23, 2012 May 5, 2015
SpouseBrad
Children1
Residence Innisfail, Alberta
OccupationReal Estate Agent
Website kerrytowle.com

Kerry Towle (born c. 1974) is a Canadian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake [2] and served as the Seniors Critic as a member of the Wildrose Alliance, [3] before leaving the Wildrose Party on November 24, 2014, to join the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. [4] Towle lost her re-election bid, to Don MacIntyre of the Wildrose, on May 5, 2015. [5]

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Before becoming a politician, Towle worked for both Indian and Northern Affairs, the David Thompson Health Region and was a turkey farmer with her husband Brad for five years. Towle also worked six years in real estate. [6]

Political career

Towle's political career began in June 2011 when she won the candidacy for the Wildrose in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, after citing the need to improve health care, to give a voice to grassroots Albertans and to protect property rights for landowners. [7]

On April 23, 2012, Towle became MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, winning 46 per cent of the vote and defeating the incumbent PC MLA, Luke Ouellette. [8] Shortly after her election win, Towle was appointed Seniors Critic by Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith. [9]

Upon becoming the Wildrose Seniors Critic, Towle was credited as being an effective advocate for Albertans by producing results for seniors on issues of quality of care at seniors facilities. [10] In early 2013, Towle went on a Seniors Tour across Alberta as part of the policy development process for the Wildrose heading into the 2016 election and to listen to concerns from seniors on quality of food in continuing care facilities, the one bath per week policy implemented by Alberta Health Services and the need for an independent seniors advocate. [11]

On November 24, 2014, Towle left the Wildrose Party, crossing the floor of the Legislature to join the governing Progressive Conservative Party's caucus. [4]

Later joined the Alberta Party. [12]

Electoral history

2012 Alberta general election : Innisfail-Sylvan Lake
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Wildrose Kerry Towle 7,08446.22+35.26
Progressive Conservative Luke Ouellette 6,14040.06-22.76
Alberta Party Danielle Klooster7474.87
New Democratic Patricia Norman7154.66-1.67
Liberal Les Vidok6424.19-9.69
Total15,32899.22
Rejected, spoiled, and declined1200.78
Turnout15,48854.84
Eligible voters28,167
Wildrose gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +29.01
Source(s)
Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results, 64 - INNISFAIL-SYLVAN LAKE" . Retrieved February 6, 2018.
2015 Alberta general election : Innisfail-Sylvan Lake
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Wildrose Don MacIntyre 7,82942.68-3.54
Progressive Conservative Kerry Towle 5,13628.00-12.06
New Democratic Patricia Norman4,24423.14+18.47
Alberta Party Danielle Klooster1,1356.19+1.31
Total18,34499.48
Rejected, spoiled, and declined950.52-0.26
Turnout18,43955.49+0.65
Eligible voters33,227
Wildrose hold Swing +4.26
Source(s)
Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results, 64 - INNISFAIL-SYLVAN LAKE" . Retrieved February 6, 2018.

References

  1. "KERRY TOWLE: Health care access critical". Red Deer Advocate . Red Deer, Alberta. March 28, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  2. Alberta Election 2012: Riding-by-riding results Archived 2012-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "MLAs". Archived from the original on April 25, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Two Wildrose MLAs crossing floor to Alberta PC Party
  5. "Unknown".[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "Legislative Assembly of Alberta Kerry Towle biography".
  7. Contenteni, Justina (June 7, 2011). "Wildrose Party Candidates" . Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  8. Innisfal Province, Staff (April 23, 2012). "Wildrose candidate Kerry Towle new MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake" . Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  9. "Danielle Smith unveils Wildrose shadow cabinet". May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  10. Braid, Don (May 9, 2013). "Wildrose 'politicizing' produces results" . Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  11. Labbe, Stephanie (March 13, 2013). "Wildrose hears concerns of seniors in Alberta" . Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  12. "Former PC cabinet ministers, MLAs spotted at Alberta Party AGM | CBC News".