Radio host latest to take a pass on Alberta Party leadership race

Jespersen says candidacy not the right move for him personally

Edmonton radio host Ryan Jespersen has passed on joining the Alberta Party leadership race, but the contest is about to get its first declared candidate.

Sources have confirmed that Kara Levis — a lawyer for TransCanada Corp. and president of the federal Liberal party’s National Women’s Liberal Commission — will announce her candidacy for the Alberta Party leadership on Monday.

Levis could not be reached for comment Friday, but told Postmedia earlier this month that she was weighing a leadership run carefully and believed the Alberta Party could be “the next big thing” on the provincial scene.

There has been a scarcity of contenders for the Alberta Party’s top job since Calgary-Elbow MLA Greg Clark announced in November he would resign the post to trigger a leadership race that would drum up new interest in the party.

SPECULATION

A Jespersen leadership bid had been the object of significant speculation, but the host had not responded to several requests for comments on his plans.

He broke his silence Friday morning during his show on CHED, however, by announcing he would not run.

“I think in the next provincial election, and most certainly within the next two, the Alberta Party can form a government. But I’m not convinced it’s the right move for me personally, and quite frankly, friends, I’m in love with what I’m doing right now,” said Jespersen, who acknowledged he had “several conversations” with people in political circles about potentially running for leader.

“It was a big decision. It was also an easy decision.”

Clark, who had held out the possibility of running again for leader, also announced Thursday he would not seek the party’s top job again. He said that he did expect several candidates to enter the race.

Earlier this month, the party moved its leadership vote from Feb. 7 to Feb. 27.