Jason Kenney, right, looks on as MLA Dave Rodney announces his resignation in Calgary on Oct. 29, 2017. Kenney has appointed Dave Rodney to the job of Alberta's agent general. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

By Canadian Press

Headed to the lone star state

Former MLA who gave seat up for Kenney gets Texas appointment

Jul 8, 2020 | 9:47 AM

EDMONTON — A former Alberta legislature member who gave up his seat for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has a new government job in Texas.

Kenney has appointed Dave Rodney to the job of Alberta’s agent general.

Kenney says the role is aimed at driving energy business and investment to the province.

Rodney stepped down as the United Conservative member for Calgary Lougheed in 2017 so Kenney, then leader of the newly formed party, could run in the constituency.

Kenney won the seat two months later and, in 2019, his UCP defeated the NDP in the provincial election.

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The government says Rodney starts his three-year assignment immediately and, when the Canada-United States border reopens from the COVID-19 pandemic, he is to move to Houston.

Rodney will be paid $250,000 a year.

“With his extensive government experience and his personal drive, Alberta needs someone like Dave who will engage with American business leaders and investors and put Alberta’s interests first,” Kenney said in a release Tuesday.

“I have the utmost confidence he is the right person for this role.”

On Wednesday, Kenney dismissed a reporter’s question on whether his appointment of Dave Rodney as Alberta’s agent general in Houston is political payback.

“He never asked for any kind of consideration in the future,” Kenney said.

“He’s been working in the private sector since that time. When we were looking for somebody to appoint to Houston, we had a short list and Dave just stood out to me as the kind of go-getter that we need.”

Kenney said Rodney approached him in late 2016 about leaving his Calgary-Lougheed seat in the legislature. Rodney eventually stepped down in the fall of 2017, after Kenney had just won the leadership of the United Conservative party. That led to a by-election that Kenny won two months later.