Alan Riddell
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Alan Riddell is a Canadian lawyer who ran in the riding of Ottawa South in for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2004 federal election.
Riddell attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute and has a law degree from the University of Toronto. As a young graduate he worked in the office of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Riddell ran against two "star" opponents. David McGuinty of the Liberal Party of Canada is the brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and the son of a former Member of Parliament (MP) of Ottawa South. The New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate was Monia Mazigh, best known as being the wife of the unjustly imprisoned Maher Arar and for her tireless campaign to free him. Despite this, Riddell was viewed as having a good chance to win in the traditionally Liberal riding.
During the mid-point of the campaign, the backlash against the provincial Liberal government's budget and the general increase in Conservative support led many to believe that Riddell could win the riding in an upset, and he led in the polls, albeit just barely.
He lost his lead in the polls, however, when it was asserted that he had been driving with a suspended driver's licence. This undermined his campaign, which had been based on integrity and honesty. Riddell first denied the story and then apologized saying "I made a mistake. I shouldn't have done that. That was not conduct that was appropriate for someone who is seeking public office." He ended up losing to McGuinty by over 5,000 votes.
In November 2004, the Ottawa Sun published a retraction after it was discovered that, in fact, he had paid the fine, and his licence was reinstated prior to his journey. Thus, Riddell was not actually driving on a suspended licence. The generally conservative Sun stated that it regretted "the resulting prejudice to his campaign".
He hoped to run again in Ottawa South in the 2006 federal election, but his nomination was blocked by the Conservative Party, due to an incident when he was 17 when he dressed as Sgt. Shultz from Hogan's Heroes. Former MP Barry Turner was nominated. Riddell supporters vowed to not vote for the Conservatives in the election. Turner later chose not to run, and Riddell again tried to for the nomination. However, star candidate Allan Cutler was recruited to run in the riding for the Tories. In a controversial move Riddell was given $50,000, reportedly to cover his expenses, to move aside and let Cutler run.
External links
References
- Eaves, Sutton "Riddell feels voters' wrath for driving while suspended" Ottawa Citizen. June 21, 2004. pg. A.7
- "Retraction:Re Alan Riddell." Ottawa Sun. November 28, 2004.