Doug Horner joins Tory leadership race

Doug Horner announced Friday he will be seeking the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party.

"I do this because I believe we need to emphasize what it means to be a Progressive Conservative," he said. "We need to be, and we should be, proud to be a member of our party."

Horner, who was deputy premier and advanced education minister, resigned from cabinet Friday but will remain the MLA for Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert.

Horner, 50, joins former Finance Minister Ted Morton in the race to replace Ed Stelmach, who will step down as premier and party leader in September.

Some party members were never happy with Stelmach's northern Alberta base and feel the next leader should be from Calgary. But Horner said his riding shouldn't be a detriment to his campaign.

"My wife and I have had the blessing of living and working in a lot of places around Alberta," he said.

"I don't think it matters where you lay your head down. It's what you're going to do to lead the party."