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Alberta Liberal leadership race gets 1st contender

Last Updated: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | 2:26 PM ET

CBC News

Current Liberal Leader Kevin Taft, left, with MLA Dave Taylor during the February election campaign. (CBC)

Calgary-Currie MLA Dave Taylor has thrown his hat into the race to become the next leader of the Alberta Liberals.

The two-term MLA and former radio broadcaster launched his leadership campaign on Wednesday, using the former site of the Calgary General Hospital as a backdrop. Taylor said his first task will be to rebuild the party from within.

"If you're number 2 your job is to try and become number 1 and what we're doing — as a result, I think, of having felt pretty beaten up and intimidated and bullied maybe for quite a number of years — is we're settling for number 2," he said.

In June, Kevin Taft announced he was stepping down as leader after four years at the helm, and after the party lost seven of its 16 seats in the March provincial election.

Taylor, the party's critic for health, urban affairs and advanced education, is the first candidate to officially announce his intentions for the leadership.

Citing the low turnout in the last provincial election, Taylor said he wants to renew interest in Alberta politics and will begin touring the province next month.

Many people believe the provincial Liberals' lack of political success is linked to the party's name, which Alberta voters associate with the federal Liberals, still blamed for the reviled National Energy Program in 1980. But Taylor said changing the party's name is low on his list of priorities.

Nominations for the Alberta Liberal leadership will be open until the end of September, and voting will be held between Dec. 5 and 12.

The Opposition Liberals currently hold nine legislative seats, while the ruling Conservatives have 72 and the NDP two.

Internal Links

Alberta Liberal leader calls it quits
Alberta Liberals set leadership timeline

Audio

Tom Spear reports for CBC Radio (Runs: 1:07): Play: Real Media »

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