Mel Norton keeps door open on possible PC leadership run

Mel Norton is committing to finish his term as mayor of Saint John but is not dampening speculation that he may run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.

Norton said in an interview on Information Morning Saint John on Monday that he intends to serve his full term as mayor, which ends in 2016.

But he did not rule out seeking another political office after his term as mayor.

“I wouldn’t close any doors. That would be foolhardy because we don’t know what the future brings,” Norton said on Monday.

“But right now, for today, my only focus from now until the end of this mandate of council is on the city of Saint John. That is where it begins and ends. At some point down the road, beyond this mandate, there are all kinds of opportunities out there.”

Former premier David Alward resigned as the Tory leader last fall after he lost the Sept. 22 election. Riverview MLA Bruce Fitch has been named the party’s interim leader.

There has been no date selected for the leadership convention to pick Alward’s full-time successor.

And if recent history holds, the Tories may wait until the fall of 2016 to select their next leader.

After Bernard Lord stepped aside following the 2006 election loss, the Tories did not elect Alward to replace him until October 2008.

Brian Gallant was elected leader of the provincial Liberals in October 2012, two years after Shawn Graham resigned.

Despite losing the Sept. 22 election, the Tories kept a firm grip on Saint John. The PCs even recaptured the riding of Saint John East, which the party lost in September, in a November by-election.

Norton said he has not decided if he will re-offer as mayor of Saint John in the 2016 municipal election. He said that decision must be made before he looks at any other opportunities.

Norton won 75.6 per cent of the vote in the 2012 municipal election.