First vote for leader set for Sept. 6
RED DEER — The first round of voting to select Alberta’s next premier will happen Sept. 6, a meeting of the Progressive Conservative party’s board of directors decided Monday.
If no candidate earns the majority of ballots cast during the first round, a run-off vote between the top two candidates will take place on Sept. 20, said PC party president Jim McCormick.
Candidates will have to shell out $50,000 non-refundable fee to enter the race, he added.
“We think that qualified candidates will be capable of raising money and we think that’s not an unreasonable amount to elect in this case,” McCormick said.
In the 2011 race, the fee for candidates was set at $40,000, of which $15,000 was refundable.
Any Albertan over the age of 14 and carrying a PC party membership will be eligible to vote. A one-year membership costs $10. A closing nomination date hasn’t been set, but McCormick suggested it would be established within 10 days.
The party’s board of directors met for three hours Monday evening behind closed doors at a conference room at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer.
The board debated a variety of options, including reverting to a delegate-style leadership race, but decided to keep rules currently listed in the party’s constitution.
“There was great discussion amongst our executives towards setting up a clear set of guidelines for our new leadership selection,” McCormick said.
“This group, we explored and discussed a few different options and in the end we decided to remain with the existing structure of selecting our new leader.”
The party’s constitution dictates the race must happen within four to six months of the leader’s resignation.
Following the race that saw Alison Redford elected leader in 2011, the party moved away from the controversial preferential balloting system. The rules now require a runoff vote if no candidate receives a clear majority (50 per cent plus one) in the first round of voting.
Previously, the top three candidates moved on to the second ballot and voters were asked to rank them based on preference.
Redford resigned as premier last week following weeks of scrutiny over eyebrow-raising expenses and criticism over her leadership style. She will stay on as MLA for Calgary-Elbow.
Dave Hancock was selected as interim leader by the Tory caucus last week and sworn in as Alberta’s 15th premier Sunday. He says he will not enter the leadership race.
On Monday, Municipal Affairs Minister Ken Hughes launched an exploratory campaign to test the leadership bid waters. Other cabinet ministers considering a bid include Finance Minister Doug Horner, Jobs Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and Justice Minister Jonathan Denis.
MLAs are currently on a two-week constituency break and are set to return to the legislature April 7.
There is also speculation thatformerEdmontonmayor Stephen Mandel may launch a campaign and a website has been launched to draft Conservative Sen. Scott Tannas to the race.