2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election explained

Election Name:2007 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
Country:Nova Scotia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2004 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2021 Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership election
Next Year:2021
Turnout:1,397
Election Date:April 27, 2007
1Blank:Riding
2Blank:Second ballot
3Blank:First ballot
Leader
Before Election:Michel Samson (interim)
After Election:Stephen McNeil
Image1:Stephen Mcneil campaign vertical.jpg
Image1 Size:180x180px
Candidate1:Stephen McNeil
1Data1:Annapolis
2Data1:718
(52.5%)
3Data1:571
(40.9%)
Image2 Size:180x180px
Candidate2:Diana Whalen
1Data2:Halifax-Clayton Park
2Data2:650
(47.5%)
3Data2:402
(28.8%)
Image4:Nova Scotia Liberal Mike Smith 2.JPG
Image4 Size:180x180px
Candidate4:Mike Smith
1Data4:N/A
2Data4:Withdrew
3Data4:255
(18.3%)
Image5:Nova Scotia Liberal Kenzie McKinnon 1.JPG
Image5 Size:180x180px
Candidate5:Kenzie MacKinnon
1Data5:N/A
2Data5:Eliminated
3Data5:169
(12.1%)
Party:Nova Scotia Liberal Party
Year:2007
Date:April 27, 2007
Location:Dartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth
Replaces:Francis MacKenzie
Winner: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

2007

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.[3]

Candidates

Various members of the party announced that they would not seek the leadership. Among them were interim leader Michel Samson, Dartmouth physician John Gillis,[8] 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.

MacKinnon (3)

McNeil (9)

Smith (13)

Whalen (9)

Caucus members who did not endorse a candidate

Results

Results by ballot
Candidate1st ballot2nd ballot
Votes cast % Votes cast %
Stephen McNeil57140.9%71852.5%
Diana Whalen40228.8%65047.5%
Mike Smith25518.3%Withdrew (Endorsed Whalen)
Kenzie MacKinnon16912.1%Eliminated (Endorsed Whalen)
Total1,397100.0%1,368100.0%

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Samson stays out of Grit leadership race . CBC News . January 12, 2007 . 2014-03-20.
  2. News: McNeil new N.S. Liberal leader . CBC News . April 28, 2007 . 2014-03-20.
  3. Web site: Nova Scotia Liberal Party - News . 2007-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070501004406/http://www.liberal.ns.ca/default.asp?mn=1.6&sfield=content.id&search=2206 . 2007-05-01 . dead .
  4. News: Lawyer MacKinnon joins race for N.S. Liberal leader . CBC News . January 19, 2007 . 2014-03-20.
  5. News: MLA McNeil launches Grit leadership bid . CBC News . January 30, 2007 . 2014-03-20.
  6. News: Mike Smith launches Liberal leadership bid . CBC News . January 10, 2007. 2014-03-20.
  7. News: Whalen launches Grit leadership bid . CBC News . January 18, 2007 . 2014-03-20.
  8. http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/553896.html Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca
  9. http://www.stephenmcneil.com/media7.htm Nova Scotia Liberal Party