Parties & Leaders

Ralph Klein Ralph Klein VIDEO PROFILE After more than a decade as premier of the country's wealthiest province, Ralph Klein says this is the last time he will ask Martha and Henry for their votes. It's those average Albertans Klein has been courting and winning over since he became premier in 1993. With a penchant for straight talk and an ability to sell tough decisions as good medicine, the former reporter has won ever larger majorities over his three terms. Klein goes into his final election with 73 of 83 seats, and bragging rights as the premier who made the province debt free. Over the last year, he has snapped at reporters, berated a Liberal MLA who requested his travel receipts and been accused of plagiarism in an essay on Chile, leading political watchers to question whether the testy Klein has become bored with his job. He's taken heat in the legislature over energy deregulation, auto insurance and his government's handling of the mad cow crisis, as well as his use of the government jet for private travel. Despite the criticism, he had an approval rating of 65 per cent two weeks before the election. Even when his party's numbers drop, his popularity remains high. Political observers believe it will be another easy majority for Klein, who will celebrate his 62nd birthday on the campaign trail. Klein has always been able to connect with people, boasting the common touch. It's often repeated how he dropped out of high school to go into the Air Force, then went back, graduated and became the principal of the Calgary Business College. In 1969, he started working for a Calgary television station, covering city hall until he was elected mayor in 1980. He stayed on for three terms, before making the leap to provincial politics as the MLA for Calgary-Elbow and environment minister. He was elected leader of the party in 1992, winning his first election six months later. In December 2001, Klein admitted a drinking problem, after visiting a homeless shelter, throwing money at a man and telling him to get a job. With a fourth term, Klein will have the distinction of moving his Tories closer to being the longest-serving government in the province's history.