Now there are nine, maybe 10..And with almost two weeks to go before the July 20 deadline to register, the list of aspiring United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership candidates could grow..Former ATB Financial vice-president Jon Horsman is the latest to announce his bid to enter the race to become party leader and the next premier of Alberta..Horsman said he offers fresh ideas and a solid four-point plan for handling the province’s $4-billion resource surplus to best benefit Albertans.."I have no baggage. I have no historical battle lines that I'm trying to defend,” Horsman told supporters when he announced his intention to run this week in Calgary..The proposed Horsman plan for the surplus would be to allocate it equally into four priorities — the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, debt repayment, investment in economic diversification, and prosperity payments for Albertans to help offset the increasing cost of living..Horseman said the right person must be chosen to lead the province to avoid any repeat of the “awful situation” inflicted on Alberta in 2015 when former NDP premier Rachel Notley’s NDP and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals both came into power..“The one thing I have learnt is that Alberta businesses are built for economic cycles,” said Horseman.."What they aren't built for is bad government though. They aren't built for when Trudeau got elected and Notley got elected, I've never seen so much wreckage than I did in those years.”.He urged people to look past him being a novice in the political arena.."But there are people who have said to me, there is nothing you're going to see in politics that you haven't seen as an investment banker.”.The election to replace Premier Jason Kenney, who said he would resign after receiving 51.4% in a leadership review, will be held October 6..Party rules stipulate candidates must pay a $150,000 entrance fee; plus, a $25,000 refundable non-compliance deposit; gather at least 1,000 signatures, 200 each from the UCP’s five provincial regions; and complete a comprehensive candidate questionnaire..Those who declared they're running include former Wildrose Party leaders Danielle Smith and Brian Jean who sits as MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La-Biche; former cabinet ministers Travis Toews, Rebecca Shultz, and Rajan Sawhney; backbencher Leela Aheer; Independent MLA for Central Peace-Notley Todd Loewen; and Amisk Mayor Bill Rock..The 10th hopeful to have announced is former PC MLA and Alberta Liberal leader Dr. Raj Sherman who's forging ahead with his campaign despite being told he didn’t meet the six-month party membership requirement. .READ MORE Edmonton doctor Sherman enters UCP race.Sherman aims to convince the UCP to reconsider his bid.
