Smith elected Wildrose Party leader

Danielle Smith was selected Saturday as the new leader of Alberta's fledgling Wildrose Alliance Party.

Party members from across the province met at a South Edmonton hotel to select aleader to replace interim leader Paul Hinman.

Smith, 38, a former broadcaster, beatbusinessman Mark Dyrholm, the only other candidate.

In her victory speech,Smith took a swipe at the governing Progressive Conservative leader.

"[Premier] Ed Stelmach, you haven't even begun to imagine what's going to hit you," she said. "We have become a party of winners."

The Wildrose Party earned ashot ofcredibility last month when Hinman, a former MLAunder the Alberta Alliance banner, won a byelection inCalgary-Glenmore.

It is the party's only seat, but it's one the governing Progressive Conservatives had held for more than 35 years.

The Wildrose Party espouses fiscal and social conservatism, and recent polls have it matching or beating the Alberta Liberals as the second most popular party in the province.

However, Wildrose president Jeff Callaway said there isplenty of work to do.

Hesaid the party will now focusonraising money and nominating candidates for the next provincial election.

"That's not a small task but I'm also encouraged by the people that are approaching us that want to be candidates."

Even though the Tories' popularity appears to be sinking, Callaway said, the governing party has a lot of money and a strong organization throughout the province and a huge majority in the legislature.

"They've got 70 out of 83 seats. That strong institutional base of support none of that is lightly dismissed by us whatsoever, and so we're under no illusions of the task that's before us."