UCP staffer among 6 new appointees for postsecondary boards of governors
Earlier this week, the provincial government announced 6 new appointments to boards of governors of 4 postsecondary institutions.
The new board members are
- Shelley Beck: Medicine Hat College
- Yusuf Mohammed: Medicine Hat College
- Kent Smith: Medicine Hat College
- Joette Decore: NorQuest College
- Andrew Neigel: NAIT
- Christopher Best: Portage College
Shelley Beck is the constituency assistant with the Cypress-Medicine Hat constituency, the MLA of which is Drew Barnes of the United Conservative Party. She’s been the constituency assistant since 2012, when Barnes was first elected. In 2013, Beck donated $300 to the Wildrose Party. She donated $105 to the UCP party in 2018, as well as $1,070 directly to the UCP constituency association in Cypress-Medicine Hat. In 2019, she donated $510 to the Cypress-Medicine Hat UCP constituency association. During the 2019 provincial election, Beck donated $500 to Michaela Glasgo’s nomination campaign to be the UCP candidate in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding, as well as $35 to the party in general. Beck’s spouse, Todd, donated $5,000 to Barnes’ Wildrose leadership campaign in 2015 and $620.50 to Jason Kenney’s 2017 PC leadership campaign. Between 2009 and 2015, Todd donated $6,800 to the Wildrose Party, including $800 to Drew Barnes 2012 election campaign and $300 to his 2015 campaign. During the 2019 election campaign, he donated $500 to the Brooks-Medicine Hat UCP candidate and $35 to the UCP party.
Yusuf Mohammed is an HR generalist with EIWM Holdings Ltd, which owns several Tim Hortons locations in Medicine Hat. He has no record of political donations.
Kent Smith is the president of the Smith Group, providing financial planning services. In 2007, his company donated $950 to the Strathmore-Brooks PC constituency association.
Joette Decore is executive vice-president of strategy and development with Stuart Olson. There is no record of Decore making political donations, but her sister-in-law, Karyn Decor donated $1,000 to the UCP in 2018, $1,000 to Stephen Mandel’s Alberta Party leadership campaign, and $500 to Donna Wilson’s Liberal election campaign in 2016.
Andrew Neigel is president and CEO of CAREERS: the Next Generation. He was one of 19 people appointed to a task force to increase awareness of skilled trades. Between 2007 and 2013, Neigel donated $4,700 to the PC party. Last year, he donated $750 to the Morinville-St. Albert UCP constituency association.
Christopher Best oversees stakeholder relations and business development with Canadian Natural Resources Limited. Best has no record of political donations, but Canadian Natural Resources donated nearly $125,000 to political parties, candidates, and constituency associations between 2004 and 2015. Parties included the PC Party, Wildrose, and theLiberals. Candidates have included such names as Derek Fildebrandt and Jeff Callaway. Constituency associations included Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater, various Calgary ridings, and Grande Prairie-Wapiti.
Originally published at kimsiever.ca on 1 May 2020.
