NDP leader to run in Tracadie-Sheila

New Brunswick New Democratic Party Leader Roger Duguay will run in Tracadie-Sheila in the next provincial election. A formal announcement is expected on Thursday.

Duguay has picked the opposition-held riding in the Acadian peninsula to run in his first election as NDP leader.

Duguay narrowly lost in the neighbouring riding of Centre Peninsule in 1999 and in 2006 he finished third in Miramichi Bay-Neguac. He also ran in 1991 in the Caraquet riding, finishing in third place.

Duguay said he considered other ridings in Acadian peninsula, including Centre Peninsule where he lives.

Since someone else wants to be the NDP candidate in that riding, he said he'll run next door in Tracadie-Sheila.

"I know what are the local issues and the regional issues whatever the riding I am going to run [in]," he said.

Progressive Conservative MLA Claude Landrywas elected inTracadie-Sheila in 2006, replacing former cabinet minister Elvy Robichaud, also a PC.

When he hits the hustings in the next election, Landry said he will remind his constituents that voting NDP will condemn the riding to being out of power.

"I will be able to be in the next government with David Alward as the new premier of New Brunswick," he said.

Next election scheduled for Sept. 27, 2010

New Brunswick has a fixed election date law, which means voters are not scheduled to head to the polls until Sept. 27, 2010.

However, Premier Shawn Graham refused on Wednesday to quash a nagging political rumour that the Liberals will call an early election.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives have already scheduled one nominating convention to prepare for the next election.

The NDP has been shut out of the New Brunswick legislature since former party leader Elizabeth Weir resigned in October 2004 to become president and chief executive officer of Efficiency New Brunswick.

Duguay was elected NDP leader in 2007. In the 2006 election, not only did the NDP not gain any seats, the party garnered only 5.1 per cent of the vote, its poorest showing since 1974.