Alberta Party delays vote on new leadership

No candidates entered yet

CALGARY The Alberta Party has pushed back the date of its leadership vote.

The party announced Monday it would announce the winner of the leadership election on Feb. 27 rather than the originally planned date of Feb. 7.

No candidates have declared they will run for the Alberta Party’s top job since Calgary-Elbow MLA Greg Clark announced almost a month ago he would step down as leader to drum up interest in the party through a leadership race.

But Robbie KregerSmith, the party’s vicepresident of communications, said the date was changed because constituency associations and party members wanted a longer window for the contest, not because of a lack of candidates.

He said it’s not surprising there are no candidates yet since details of the contest weren’t finalized.

“Now that the rules are out, we’ll start to see people step forward,” said KregerSmith.

Kreger-Smith anticipates a couple of contenders will throw their hat in the ring before Christmas, with two more expected in the new year.

The party said Monday the cut-off to enter the race will be Jan. 15.

Approved candidates will be required to pay a $10,000 entry fee, with half that amount a refundable goodbehaviour bond.

Clark, one of two Alberta Party MLAs, hasn’t ruled out running again for the leadership.

Possible contenders being mentioned in party ranks include Chima Nkemdirim, the chief of staff to Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Edmonton radio talk-show host Ryan Jespersen; former Morinville mayor and Alberta Urban Municipalities Association president Lisa Holmes; and Kara Levis, a lawyer for TransCanada.

Levis — who is also president of federal Liberal party’s National Women’s Liberal Commission — said Monday she is close to making a final decision on the Alberta Party leadership race.

She said she’s weighing a leadership bid against running as a federal candidate, but believes the Alberta Party can be “the next big thing” on the provincial scene.

“If people with lots of energy and enthusiasm and the political will to make sure that we get out and talk to voters ... we can really be a force in 2019,” she said.

The other candidates could not be immediately reached for comment.

Stephen Carter, the former Progressive Conservative strategist who is now voluntarily advising the Alberta Party, believes the party is generating interest even with no declared candidates.

“Overall, it’s working exactly how it’s supposed to work,” he said.

Voting will run Feb. 25 to 27, with the party using a one-member, one-vote preferential ballot.