Clay Serby will not seek the leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.
The agriculture minister said in an interview last week he had been encouraged to run, but has decided against it.
“The premier’s job requires a commitment that far exceeds what most people appreciate,” he said.
Serby said the need to reconnect with the countryside is obvious. The party was nearly wiped out in rural constituencies during the 1999 election.
Serby said a leadership race will help that process by creating excitement and public debate.
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“My intention will be to support a candidate who has a good appreciation for rural Saskatchewan.”
As of Oct. 2 no one had stepped forward to run as a replacement for premier Roy Romanow, who announced his resignation Sept. 25. He will stay on until the new leader is chosen.
Serby has held several cabinet posts, including health, education and municipal government, and said he will make a valuable contribution to a new administration.
“I’ve done most anything (Romanow) has asked me to and I will continue to bring a strong rural voice to the cabinet table.”
Others decline
Serby’s decision not to seek the top job was echoed by acting deputy premier Janice MacKinnon. She said the leader should be someone who can commit for three or four elections.
The leader will be chosen during a convention between mid-January and early February.
The NDP has not held a leadership convention since 1970, when Romanow was defeated by Allan Blakeney.
Romanow was acclaimed as Blakeney’s successor in 1987.
At a special meeting Sept. 30, the NDP provincial council adopted a one-member, one-vote leadership selection process. This marks the first time all members will elect their leader, rather than voting through constituency delegates.
The council hopes this will attract new members. Membership has dropped by about 30,000 since 1990, and now sits around 16,000.
Provincial secretary Steven Bobiash said the council is considering how to conduct the vote – in person, by mail or by telephone.
“It could be an NDP voting day at special locations,” he said. “If it’s mail-in, that’s even easier. People living on farms would hopefully be able to get in and mail their ballots.”
The council will meet Oct. 14-15 in Battleford to consider options.
