'It was apparently a timing issue': Brian Jean on mayoral endorsement confusion

Former Wildrose Party leader and current United Conservative Party leadership candidate Brian Jean said he jumped the gun announcing a campaign endorsement from the mayor of a central Alberta town.

In a press release Wednesday, Jean revealedendorsements by Rocky Mountain House Mayor Fred Nash, former SundremayorMyron Thompson andRick Pankiw, mayor of Rimbey.

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"I believe most of my entire Town ofRimbeysupports Brian all the way to become our leader of not only the United Conservative Party but the next premier of Alberta. I am proud to say I support Brian Jean," read a statement fromPankiwincluded in Jean's release.

But, as Postmedia reports, Pankiwdistanced himself from Jean's campaign hoursafter the announcement, saying he is endorsing no leadership candidate and his quotewas from a personal text to Jean and was never meant to be made public.

"It was apparently a timing issue," Jean said Thursday at an event held by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "That was the quote from Mr. Pankiw but he wanted it released at a different time."

CBC News contacted Pankiw but he declined to comment on the record.

Mixed messages

Jean confirmed he received the quote directly fromPankiwin a text message and there were "no restrictions on it to send out."

Postmediasaid Pankiwturned down a request from Jean'scampaignto publicly endorse the candidate, while Jean says Pankiw simply wanted it released "later in time."

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Jean said he respectsPankiw'swish not to endorse hisleadership bid, addinghe isbacked by "the majority" of the UCP caucus.

"We have the endorsements of the people I'm really looking for, and that is the everyday Albertan that wants their taxes lowered and, frankly, a better quality of life," Jean said.

Carbon tax pledge

Jean wasin Calgary on Thursday with fellow UCP leadership candidates Jason Kenney and DougSchweitzer to sign a "taxpayer protection pledge."

All three candidates agreed that, if elected, they would commit to scrapping Alberta's carbon tax within 100 days of becoming leader. The candidates also pledged to balance the provincial budget.

Colin Craig, interim Alberta director of the tax federation, said the group surveyed supporters across the province and found "it was abundantly clear" thatAlbertans want to removethe carbon tax.

All three candidates said they are committed to eliminating the carbon tax and said they would challenge the federal government if it tries to establish a provincialcarbon tax on Alberta.

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