Potential leadership hopefuls stay mum

W hile no one has yet launched a leadership bid for leader of the Progressive Conservative party, several potential candidates have opened the door to the possibility, including Finance Minister Doug Horner, the MLA for Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert.

The 53-year-old told the Calgary Herald on Sunday that he may consider running.

Thomas Lukaszuk, the minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, said he will decide whether he will enter the race after the party establishes rules to select their next leader.

On Saturday, he asked members of his riding association during a meeting to think about the qualities they want to see in the leader of the party.

Former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel is expected to comment this week on whether he will consider a run for the leadership.

Meanwhile, Doug Goss, chair of the University of Alberta board of governors, is also being talked about as a dark horse in the race. When asked if he was considering a bid, Goss said he could not comment at this time. Goss has run Tory election campaigns in the Edmonton region.

Two cabinet members from Calgary — Municipal Affairs Minister Ken Hughes and Justice Minister Jonathan Denis — became the first to publicly admit they’re testing the waters on whether to make a run for the job.

Meanwhile, the media has been working hard to prompt others to say something.

“Calgary Mayor @nenshi does not rule out running for premier,” read a tweet Saturday from CBC’s radio show The House.

Nenshi was quick to respond on Twitter: “Didn’t rule it in either.”