Alberta Liberal leadership race gets 1st contender

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'renumber 2your job is to try and becomenumber 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 fornumber 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 forthe reviled National Energy Program in 1980. But Taylor saidchanging the party's nameislow 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.