Jamie Lall to run as independent in Chestermere-Rocky View

It's been two weeks since Jamie Lallreceived a late-night text message telling him he'd been kicked out of the race forthe Torynomination in Chestermere-RockyView.

But the Calgary businessman still plans to be on the ballot, even if it iswithout the help of the party he's been a memberof for years.

• Bruce McAllister acclaimed as PC candidate after Jamie Lall disallowed
• Jamie Lall dismissed from Chestermere-Rocky View Tory nomination by text message

Lallsays the details are still vague and he still doesn't necessarily know why he was disqualified.

"People have been so supportive, I know that it was such a rough situation but the fact that I had so many people defend me, it really helped heal the wound pretty quick," he said.

In the week after the disqualification, when asked aboutLallbeing removed from the race, Jim Prentice saidLallwas one of hundreds of people the party checked out before candidates were chosen.

"Mr.Lallwas one of the people who was vetted, he was vetted for good reasons," Prentice said.

Lallsays he's not looking backwardsand that his future is to run as an independent conservative in the provincial election.

"I know that I don't have a party banner behind me, but truthfully I don't think I really need that," he said.

Chestermere is home

Lall, who grew up inChestermere, says he has a team in place, thesignageand the marketing material ready to go.

"I think there is a general sense of, I don't know if it's distaste, but I think people are a bit fed up with some of the party politics in the area,"Lallsaid.

Lall, 30, theCEO of the Calgary Housing and Employment Servicesand a longtime card-carrying member of the PC Party, saidfrom what he was told, he went through a standard vetting processwith private investigatorGordon Bull and disclosed everything that was asked of him.

His disqualificationpaved the way for Bruce McAllister,one of nine WildroseMLAswho crossed the floor to the PCs in December, to beacclaimed as the Torycandidate.

Lall saidhe still has a manyfriends "within the rank-and file-within the party" and hopes to have an open and frank conversation with some people "on that side" about what happened.

"The bridge isn't burned completely, maybe it's just a cool off period, if you want to call it that," he said.

The Chestermere-Rockyview was a PC riding before voters electedMcAllister as a Wildrose candidate in the 2012 election.

Voters in the riding will have to choose between McAllister, Lall and Wildrosecandidate Leela Aheer.

Lall says he isn't running as some sort of novelty campaign, but because he senses a real appetite here from his base in the area who are "sick and tired of the musical chairs."

Even though he has had offers to join other parties, Lall says he feels that running as an independent isa good choice.

"I know no independent has ever won in the past but it would be fun to make history, wouldn't it?" he said.