Kevin Taft (born September 9, 1955) is a Liberal politician in Alberta, Canada. He was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, from 2004 to 2008. Taft was raised in Edmonton, Alberta.
In 2001, Taft entered politics and was elected to the legislature as an Alberta Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the riding of Edmonton Riverview, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate and former city councillor Wendy Kinsella. Three years later in the spring of 2004, Ken Nicol resigned as leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, and Taft was elected to replace him. Taft was generally given credit for being more tenacious than the soft-spoken Nicol in his performance in the legislature during the lead-up to the 2004 election, especially on issues such as public auto insurance, public accounts, and government contracts. Despite leading a party saddled with a $900,000 debt, he helped his party more than double its seats in the election from 7 before the election call to 16, regaining seats in Edmonton, and making a breakthrough in the traditionally conservative city of Calgary. Taft also saw his support in Riverview solidify; he received more votes than any other candidate, of any party, in the 2004 election. In the 2008 election, the Liberal Party won only nine seats.
On June 26, 2008, Taft announced that he would be stepping down as leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, but remained as an MLA until the next election.
Read more about Kevin Taft: Education, Experience in China, Career, Books, Speeches, Electoral Record
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“There is no “but” in it. The way to be an administration Senator is to vote with the Administration.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)