2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
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April 27, 2007
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Turnout
1,397
Candidate
Stephen McNeil
Diana Whalen
Riding
Annapolis
Halifax-Clayton Park
Second ballot
718 (52.5%)
650 (47.5%)
First ballot
571 (40.9%)
402 (28.8%)
Candidate
Mike Smith
Kenzie MacKinnon
Riding
N/A
N/A
Second ballot
Withdrew
Eliminated
First ballot
255 (18.3%)
169 (12.1%)
Leader before election
Michel Samson (interim)
Elected Leader
Stephen McNeil
2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
Date
April 27, 2007
Convention
Dartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth
Resigning leader
Francis MacKenzie
Won by
Stephen McNeil
Ballots
1,397
The 2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election was held on April 27, 2007 at the Dartmouth Sportsplex, following the resignation of Francis MacKenzie, shortly after failing to win a seat in the 2006 election. This was the third leadership convention for the Liberals since 2002. In addition to the leadership convention, the party will hold its Annual General Meeting including the election of officers, adoption of policies, and potential constitutional amendments. It was won by Annapolis MLA Stephen McNeil.
The party had held government for much of the province's history, having been in power from Canadian Confederation in 1867 to 1878, 1882 to 1925, 1933 to 1956, 1970 to 1978, and 1993 to 1999. However, the party had been relegated to third party status after it lost the 1999 election.
Timeline
2006
June 20: Michel Samson is selected as interim leader.
2007
January 10: Mike Smith, the mayor of Colchester County, becomes the first registered candidate, launching his campaign in Truro.
January 12: Interim leader Michel Samson announces that he will not run for party leadership.
January 18: Halifax-Clayton Park MLA Diana Whalen becomes the second and highest profile candidate in the race, launching her campaign in Halifax.
January 19: Kenzie MacKinnon announces that he will enter the leadership race.
January 30: Annapolis MLA Stephen McNeil becomes the second MLA to enter the race; he is the first to have endorsements from current MLAs.
April 28: Stephen McNeil elected leader.
Rules
The new leader was chosen by a full delegated convention, the first in the party since 1986. The leader was elected using a one member, one vote system, which has been used since 1992. The party issued a 78 page document, outlining the rules, on January 15, 2007.
Candidates
Mike SmithDiana WhalenKenzie McKinnonStephen McNeil
Kenzie MacKinnon, lawyer and three-time Liberal candidate
Stephen McNeil, MLA for Annapolis
Mike Smith, mayor of Colchester County
Diana Whalen, MLA for Halifax-Clayton Park
Various members of the party announced that they would not seek the leadership. Among them were interim leader Michel Samson, Dartmouth physician John Gillis, and Liberal MPs Geoff Regan, Scott Brison, and Michael Savage.
Endorsements
The following is a list of high-profile endorsers for each of the candidates; the list includes MLAs, MPs, and Senators, as well as former MLAs, Premiers, and Lieutenant-Governors.
