The race to replace Progressive Conservative leader Ed Stelmach was expected to get a little more crowded today with an announcement from former Alberta Energy minister Rick Orman.
Orman, who has stayed largely out of provincial politics since finishing third in the 1992 leadership race when he lost to Ralph Klein, is expected to make a pair of announcements today in Edmonton and Calgary.
Prior to running for the leadership spot he had held several cabinet posts in the Don Getty government while serving as a Calgary MLA from 1986 to 1993.
Since leaving politics he has been working in the oil and gas sector, most recently as head of Nor Energy AS, a Calgary-based company.
Orman is also a regular contributor on the CKUA radio show Sunday Magazine.
Allred spills the beans
His run for the PC leadership became public knowledge over the weekend in part thanks to local MLA Ken Allred.
The local PC association was hosting its annual lobster boil fundraiser and Allred said he, with Orman's blessing, spilled the beans.
"He was at our lobster boil and I knew he was going to announce and I asked him if it would be OK to introduce him, because there were some other candidates there, as the-soon-to-announce candidate."
Orman will join a field including former Stelmach cabinet ministers; Doug Horner, Ted Morton and Allison Redford, as well as MLA Doug Griffiths and former minister Gary Mar who was the province's representative in Washington.
Allred said he doesn't anticipate Orman's lack of name recognition will hurt him in the upcoming leadership race.
"Some of the older folks will remember him and I expect he has probably maintained a visible presence in Calgary."
Allred said he is a regular listener to the CKUA program and he has often found Orman insightful. He believes Orman has dropped hints he might be in the mix in the last few weeks on the program.
Though not a complete outsider, Orman will bring a different perspective having been away from the day-to-day of politics, Allred said.
"It is always good to have some perspective from outside."
The St. Albert MLA said he has no plans to endorse any candidate, at least until the full field emerges.
"I am not sure if I am going to endorse anybody right away and I may not endorse anybody at all."
Allred said he intends to take his time before throwing his support behind any of the candidates to make sure he is making the right choice.
"I want to listen to them all and talk to them all and see what they have to say."
The leadership vote is scheduled to take place in September.
Orman was unavailable for comment.
