Kennedy not running for PC leadership

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Jerome Kennedy will not be entering the race to replace Danny Williams as leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives, CBC News has learned.

Kennedy's communication director said Kennedy will make his leadership intentions known next week, but Progressive Conservative sources said that Kennedy has been telling Tories that he won't seek the party's top job.

No one has officially entered the race yet but Education Minister Darin King said he is considering runing for the position. Finance Minister Tom Marshall has not ruled out the idea of seeking the leadership, either.

Former Premier Danny Williams officially left politics Dec. 3.

Premier Kathy Dunderdale was sworn in as the province's tenth premier that same day.

The party is expected to hold a leadership convention next spring and the province is scheduled to hold a provincial election October 2011.