Just how "united" the new United Conservative Party is will be decided in the weeks ahead now that the leaders of both former parties have announced their intentions to run to become the first leader of the new party.  

This morning (July 29) in Edmonton, former PC leader Jason Kenney surprised no one when he announced that he'll be seeking the party leadership, joining former Wildrose leader Brian Jean as declared candidates.  Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer was the first to announce his intentions to run for the job.

Kenney made the announcement before a crowd of supporters at the Italian Cultural Society in the provincial capital.  He's also planning to be in Calgary this afternoon at 4:00 pm at Winsport.  

Referring to the vote last weekend when 95 per cent of both the PCs and Wildrose voted in favour of becoming one party, Kenney said, "The critics said it would take too long, it was too complicated, it wasn't legal.  One party leader said that the unity plan was all 'gamesmanship' that would create 'confusion and disarray' and could result in 'three or four' conservative parties instead of one.  But Alberta is a can-do province.  We don't sit around looking for excuses, we figure out how to overcome obstacles and we just get 'er done."

He went on to say, "This will be the most challenging time in Alberta government in at least 25 years.  We need a leader with consistent conservative convictions, who can withstand endless attacks without flinching, who has the political skills to unite our new party while reaching out to broaden the tent, and has a proven track record of leading major reforms within government."

Airdrie MLA Angela Pitt was one of the first to endorse Jean for the new leader.  She says she'll do what she can to make sure that Jean gets elected on October 28th when the UCP picks it's new leader.  Pitt hopes the campaign doesn't become bitter.

"I'm not sure how the leadership campaign is going to roll out.  I certainly hope and I think everybody hopes that this is a good clean campaign.  It's good to see, hopefully, many people running for the job, I mean that's democracy and that's good.  I don't know what will come ahead, but I wish everybody the best."

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