Stephen Harper Leadership Team

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On January 12, 2004, Stephen Harper announced his resignation as Leader of the Opposition, in order to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. Harper won the Conservative leadership election easily, with a first ballot majority against Belinda Stronach and Tony Clement on March 20, 2004. Harper's victory included strong showings in Ontario, Western Canada, and Atlantic Canada.

Harper launched the One Conservative Voice campaign in Ottawa on Monday, January 12, 2004. With more than 30 MPs on hand to endorse his bid, Stephen Harper ended weeks of speculation when he officially launched his campaign for the leadership.

Many credit Harper's strong grassroots team on the ground across Canada, especially in Quebec and Atlantic Canada where results were strong when many predicted Stronach would take many of the ridings. Harper's leadership was lead by Tom Flanagan, a political science professor at the University of Calgary. Flannigan has been a close personal friend of Stephen Harper's for many years and now as Prime Minister, relies much on Flanagan's advice to this day. Other key players on the team were Michael Fortier and Doug Finley. Fortier served as national co-chair of the campaign, and Finley was the chief organizer. Fortier would later -- resulting in some controversy -- be appointed to the Senate of Canada and also to the cabinet. Finley works closely with the party and works out of the party's Ottawa office. His wife Diane Finley, is an MP from rural Ontario, who was appointed to cabinet following the election. Many of the campaign team used for his leadership would be transitioned over to the 2004 national election team for the party and also in 2006 as well.

[edit] Harper Leadership Key Players

  • Campaign Manager: Tom Flanagan
  • National Field Organizers: Doug Finley, Stacey Sherwood, Joe Dow, and Jenni Byrne
  • Communications Team: Carolyn Stewart-Olsen, Yaroslav Baran and Fred Delorey
  • Financial Agent: Eric Hughes

[edit] Harper Campaign Chairs