In early November 2007, Len Skowronski replaced Lavern Ahlstrom as leader of the party.
He ran for the Alberta Social Credit Party in the 1971 Alberta general election in the riding of Calgary-Buffalo.
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He also ran for the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta in the riding of Calgary Centre in the 1967 election but came up a very close second to Fred Colborne of the Alberta Social Credit Party.
He was first elected in the 1971 Alberta general election defeating popular Calgary Stampeders star Don Luzzi from the Alberta Social Credit Party in a very tight race.
Schmidt was vice-president of Lethbridge Community College when he was chosen to succeed Harry Strom as leader of the Alberta Social Credit Party following the defeat of Strom's government in 1971 despite the fact that Schmidt had never held a seat in the Alberta legislature.