Rejected Tory candidate declares Independent run

Last Updated: Monday, December 17, 2007 | 12:42 PM MT

CBC News

Rejected provincial Tory candidate Craig Chandler announced Monday he will run as an Independent in Calgary-Egmont.

Chandler won the Progressive Conservative nomination in the southeast riding last month. But Premier Ed Stelmach and the party executive rejected his candidacy, saying it would not be "in the best interests of the party."

Craig Chandler announced he will run in Calgary-Egmont as an Independent.
(CBC)

The activist and radio host has a history of making controversial comments against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Calling Stelmach's rejection of his nomination a "denial of democracy," Chandler said Monday he hopes to take Calgary-Egmont from the Tories as an Independent.

"I think they picked the wrong guy to push aside," he told reporters.

Chandler said he polled supporters among the 3,000 people he sold memberships to in the riding, and that two-thirds of them said they would vote for him as an Independent.

Asked about the possibility of vote splitting among conservative voters, Chandler suggested it would grab the PC party's attention if the Liberals took the seat.

"We may actually have to level it out and demolish and maybe have Liberals in, in government, before people realize we've got to get together and work on the same team, so that may happen."

Chandler promised to launch a human rights complaint against the Tories, alleging they were intolerant by rejecting his candidacy and religious beliefs.

"I think because I have those views I am being persecuted," he said.

He also said he plans to sue the party in the new year to reclaim about $170,000 he claims he spent on his nomination campaign.