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Review calls for new AGM for Wildrose in Rimbey-Rocky-Sundre riding

A new slate of directors who say they are still at the helm of the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre Wildrose riding are not willing

A new slate of directors who say they are still at the helm of the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre Wildrose riding are not willing to give up their newly acquired status without a fight.

The board was elected at a controversial AGM held Oct. 15, but an independent review says neither the meeting nor the board is valid.

The review, held at the request of 10 members, states numerous reasons why there needs to be another AGM including bylaw infractions, the manner which nominees to executive positions were brought forward and unacceptable behavior that forced the chairman to adjourn the meeting early.”

But Edwin Erickson, who was elected president at the meeting has no plans to step down, nor does any other board member, he said.

“We consider ourselves duly elected. We had a strong majority vote for us to become the new board.”

Erickson believes the board’s lawyer can easily dispute the arguments presented by the review.

“They are weak, terribly weak,” he said. “We have our lawyer working on it right now.”

He said the board will decide their next move after they hear from their lawyer.

“He will give us advice and we will discuss that and decide where to go from there. We will act, the question is how. We want to be real careful.”

But Paul McLauchlin, vice president of communications for the original constituency association board said the independent review clearly states the meeting is not valid.

“They ruled it doesn’t count and we need to have another meeting. It’s a do-over plain and simple.”

The review recommends the AGM be reconvened within the next 60 to 90 days.

“As a member of the Wildrose Executive Committee, I feel very strongly that a democratic, membership-driven solution to any CA issue is always best,” said David Yager, President of the Wildrose Party. “That solution has to be one where the Wildrose constitution and bylaws are followed and upheld and that meetings are held in a respectful and orderly fashion,” he added. “We look forward to a positive outcome following the rescheduled Wildrose AGM.”