With an entirely new approach to the selection, the Alberta Liberals will pick their new party leader this week.
Online and telephone polls are already open and party members and supporters will be able to cast a ballot this Saturday in several cities around the province, with a winner announced Saturday afternoon.
The party has changed the rules for this leadership race, with a system akin to the primary system in the United States. Anyone legally eligible to vote could register with the party as supporters prior to yesterday afternoon at no cost. The supporters along with party members are all eligible to cast a ballot.
Corey Hogan said the party is very pleased with its open system, because it has attracted a whole new crop of people to the party.
“We have built a list of over 29,000 people that we will be reaching out to during the next election.”
Hogan said when outgoing leader David Swann was elected there were approximately 6,000 party members and about 4,000 votes cast.
Hogan said about 3,500 of the 29,000 people are full members of the party and the rest are supporters. Hogan said with the new changes and the broad field he has no idea how the race will end up.
“With five candidates anything can happen.”
The online and telephone ballots will be added to those cast in person on Saturday and the winner is set to be announced at 5 p.m. at the University of Alberta.
Hogan said the ballot is preferential ballot allowing people to mark their second choice and the last place finisher will be removed after the first round.
The party will then add those second choices until one candidate has more than 50 per cent of the vote.
Former conservative MLA Raj Sherman has signed up more supporters and members than all of the other candidates combined.
Candidate and MLA Laurie Blakeman said there is no way to tell whether the memberships Sherman signed up will convert to votes.
“He has certainly signed up more people than the rest of us combined, but it is very unclear whether those people remain committed to him.”
Sherman used automated phone calls through his campaign and candidate and MLA Hugh MacDonald said it seems many of the people he has contacted don’t even know they are on the list.
“With so many of these registered supporters we find they have no idea they are eligible to vote and no idea even how they got on the list,” he said. “These are unchartered waters we are sailing in so I have no idea how many people are actually going to vote.”
Candidate Bruce Payne said he had a great campaign and is now furiously working the phones.
“I think the campaign went very well. I loved getting around the province and meeting with Albertans and seeing what is important to them.”
Blakeman echoed those comments and said while at time the race has been exhausting it has also been invigorating.
“The upside is always travelling the province and meeting new people and getting an opportunity to listen to them and understand the Alberta character and specific issues with greater understanding.”
The Gazette attempted to contact Sherman along with the other candidate in the race, Bill Harvey, but was unable to reach them before press time.
