Kelly Lamrock enters Liberal leadership race

Former Liberal cabinet minister Kelly Lamrock announced his intention to seek the party’s leadership on social media and his campaign website on Wednesday.

Lamrock has been rumoured as a potential leadership candidate since former premier Shawn Graham resigned but he had not formally entered the race.

Lamrock said in a statement on his website that he intends to seek the leadership.

"Liberals win when we do certain things right — when we hold to clear progressive values, when we speak up for the underdog and the middle class, when we have a message that progressives can rally around, we win. When we show a commitment to fairness and honesty, we win trust," Lamrock said in a statement.

"There are no shortcuts to victory, not catchy slogans, a new face, or the will of the party establishment. We win when we speak about how we can help make people's lives a little fairer, a little better and a little more hopeful."

Lamrock lost his Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak seat in September 2010 to Progressive Conservative MLA Pam Lynch.

The Fredericton lawyer held several posts in the Graham government, including minister of education, minister of social development and attorney general.

Political controversies

It was his time as the province’s education minister where he caused the biggest controversy.

Lamrock unveiled a plan to scrap early French immersion in favour of a program that had a Grade 5 entry point. The decision led to protests around the province and a judicial order to hold more consultations on the issue.

The Liberals ended up backtracking on the original plan. By August, another plan was released that started early French immersion in Grade 3 instead of Grade 1.

The Progressive Conservative government is now reviewing that plan with a four-person commission.

Lamrock also created a stir when he raised concerns about the Graham government's plan to sell NB Power.

Lamrock was among a group of MLAs and cabinet ministers who told Graham they would not vote for the NB Power deal as it had been originally negotiated.

Lamrock is joining former health minister Michael Murphy, Moncton-area lawyer Brian Gallant and former Belledune mayor Nick Duivenvoorden in the Liberal leadership race.