Winner | Wade MacLauchlan |
---|---|
Resigning leader | Robert Ghiz |
Convention | Charlottetown |
Date | February 21, 2015 |
Ballots | acclaimed |
Candidates | 1 |
Entrance Fee | $2,500 |
Prince Edward Island Liberal Party leadership elections
The Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island, on February 21, 2015, chose a new leader and premier to replace outgoing PEI Premier and Liberal leader, Robert Ghiz. On November 13, 2014, Ghiz announced his pending resignation. The Liberal Party has been the Government of Prince Edward Island with a majority in the Legislative Assembly since 12 June 2007, having won the 2007 and 2011 provincial elections. With the Liberals forming the PEI government, the winner of the election will consequently become Premier of Prince Edward Island.
To be nominated, a candidate needed signatures from 50 party members, to pay the entry fee of $2,500, and must be approved by a green light committee. Nominations closed on January 20, 2015 with Wade MacLauchlan as the sole registered candidate. MacLauchlan officially became leader by acclamation at the February 21, 2015 convention.
Former University of Prince Edward Island president
Unsuccessful candidate for Mayor of Charlottetown in 2014, small businessman and environmental activist. Kennedy joined the Liberal Party on November 21, 2014, and planned to walk through all of the province's 27 districts to collect signatures for his nomination and learn about the concerns of Islanders. Kennedy announced on January 16, 2015, that he was ending his unofficial candidacy due to MacLauchlan's insurmountable lead and his difficulty in fulfilling the nomination criteria.