Victoria’s Rob Fleming announced Saturday that he would not join the race to replace Adrian Dix as leader of the New Democratic Party.
“It was a difficult decision not to run. Part of me really wanted to make my case for the leadership but it’s not going to be at this time,” Fleming said in an interview.
The Victoria-Swan Lake MLA had said in January that he was “actively considering” running for the leadership.
Fleming, a 42-year-old father of two young children, said his wife was supportive of a possible leadership bid, but he decided the time wasn’t right.
Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan and Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth — “heavyweight candidates,” Fleming said — are the two declared contenders.
Fleming, who was first elected in 2005, was a strong supporter of Farnworth in the 2011 leadership race. Farnworth came in second behind Dix but is considered a likely front-runner this time around.
Fleming wouldn’t say who he plans to endorse for the leadership.
“I think highly of them, I respect the skills they have,” he said of Horgan and Farnworth.
“I expect to have conversations with both of them about what their ideas and vision are for the leadership.”
Dix announced last fall that he would step down after the party’s loss in May’s provincial election.
The deadline for candidates to declare candidacy is May 1. Candidates have to pay the party $25,000 to enter the race, up from $15,000 in the 2011 contest. They also have to have 250 signatures from party members around B.C.
The leadership vote is scheduled to take place electronically from Sept. 24 to 27. The new leader will be announced Sept. 28 in Vancouver.
