Christy Clark plans B.C. Liberal leadership announcement

Former Liberal cabinet minister Christy Clark says she will announce on Wednesday morning if she plans to enter the race for the leadership of the B.C. Liberals and the premiership of the province.

But there are already clear signs her decision has been made. On Monday evening the radio show host posted a message on her webpage inviting supporters to turn up for the announcement at SFU's Segal Graduate School of Business at 8:35 a.m. PT.

Then on Tuesday, a poll for new members enrolling on the B.C. Liberal Party's website suggested that Clark was already officially in the race by listing her as one of five candidates new members could register their support for. But soon after the story broke, her name was removed from the website.

Clark is already considered to be the frontrunner in the race to replace Premier Gordon Campbell, after several polls put her far ahead of all the declared candidates.

If Clark does win the leadership of the governing party, she would also become premier of B.C., although she would be expected to immediately seek a seat in the legislature in a by-election.

Elected MLA in 1996

Clark was first elected to the legislature in 1996 in the riding of Port Moody-Westwood as a B.C. Liberal and served as an opposition critic. She also served as a campaign co-chair for the Liberals 2001 election sweep when she won her seat again.

Under Campbell she served as minister of education and deputy premier and as minister of children and family development before stepping down from politics before the 2005 election.

She then ran for the NPA nomination to run for mayor of Vancouver, but lost to Sam Sullivan in 2005, before becoming a radio show host with CKNW in Vancouver.

Four Liberal MLAs have already officially entered the race: Moira Stilwell, George Abbott, Mike de Jong and Kevin Falcon. All four stepped down from their cabinet posts to enter the race.

The party has scheduled the leadership vote for February 26.