There is an old journalism adage that if you allow politicians to have their say, you get exactly what politicians want you to hear.
But if you don’t allow politicians to have their say, how do you really know what’s on their minds?
It’s a delicate dance for political reporters but sometimes you have to allow politicians to have their say.
So here are our five Saskatchewan Party leadership candidates, offering up their thoughts in their own words.
Tina Beaudry-Mellor on the direction of the Sask. Party’s future: “I don’t want it to stagnate.”
Beaudry-Mellor on her contribution to this leadership race, notwithstanding her remote chance of winning: “Maybe the end game for me is a party that I can be proud to be in.”
Ken Cheveldayoff on his work ethic: “I guess it comes from my upbringing. I was taught: ‘You can do anything you want to do. You can be anything you want to be.’ ”
Cheveldayoff on his perceived political ambitions: “I’ve never been worried about the perception of others. Those that know me well will know my intentions are always well-known. There is no reason for suspicion. I am who I am.”
Cheveldayoff on replacing Brad Wall: “It’s not going to be a mirror of Brad Wall, because nobody is going to fill Brad Wall’s shoes.”
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Scott Moe on the carbon tax: “It’s political but it’s more than that, too.”
Moe on replacing Wall: “I’m not Brad Wall and will never be Brad Wall. I’m Scott Moe.”
Moe on a past driving under the influence conviction and an at-fault accident that resulted in a fatality: “You can’t change mistakes that you made.”
Alanna Koch on her ambitions to run for premier: “It was always in the back of my mind.”
Koch on her grandfather, who encouraged her to be Saskatchewan’s first female premier right up until his death at 93 years. “(He told me): ‘Alanna, you need to promise me you are going to be premier.’ I said I would try.”
Koch on running for premier, even though she has never previously run for a seat in the legislature: “I knew exactly what I was signing up for … I have always been very well-prepared.”
Koch on the support other leaders have received from sitting MLAs: “I assume a lot of (other candidates’ support is) based on friendships (in caucus).”
Gord Wyant on the nature of his leadership campaign: “It is a different campaign. We’ve tried to appeal to the (Liberal-Conservative) founding principles and the roots of this party. We’ve tried to differentiate ourselves … I’ve had (supporters say): ‘Yeah, I am Conservative, but this party has drifted too far to the right. We’ve got to tend to the flank’.”
Wyant on his background as a federal Liberal: “You can call me a (Paul) Martin Liberal rather than a (Justin) Trudeau Liberal. I didn’t vote for him (Trudeau) in the last election. If you want to label me, label me as a Martin Liberal.”
Wyant on his willingness to call an inquiry into the Global Transportation Hub: “I am not afraid of the truth. There’s still a lot of unanswered questions.”
Wyant on the Sask. Party’s need to keep the Liberal/Conservative coalition together: “There are very few of us (Liberals) left in this party. Unless my message is resonating, I truly worry about the future of this party. I think the ballot question is: ‘Who can unite the party?’ ”
Wyant on the prospects of the Sask. Party remaining a strong coalition: “I think it depends on who wins.”
Wyant on his support of the Regina bypass that’s quadrupled in costs to $1.9 billion: “It’s been a little difficult when it comes to criticizing decisions you’ve made.”
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