Career
Friedel was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1993 Alberta general election. On March 18, 1999 he would table a report from the committee in the Legislature that made 81 recommendations to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Acting. Friedel would marginally improve his vote total running for a third term in a four way race in the 2001 Alberta general election.
In that election he would take 64% of the votes cast.
In his final term as Modern Language Association he served as Chair of the Northern Alberta Developments Council. He would not run for public office again in 2004.
After Friedel left his seat in the Legislature he became chairman of the Commuter Air Access Network of Alberta. As Past chairman he is fighting Edmonton city council to keep large passenger flights out of Edmonton City Centre Airport.