The room was nearly empty and the turnout was low, but Alberta did find itself with a new official opposition leader over the weekend.
Alberta Liberals, using a new voting mechanism meant to throw open the doors to new members, elected their fifth party leader of the past 10 years: Independent MLA Raj Sherman.
The party is weak in the polls, but the victory of Dr. Sherman is nonetheless significant. He's an emergency doctor and former Tory who was kicked out of caucus a year ago for lashing out against the government's health policy. He comes with baggage – he's gaffe-prone and a new Liberal who borrowed the red tie he wore during his victory speech. But he is charismatic and brings more star power than any other candidate.
He will likely shift the party to the right at a time when it has an opportunity to capitalize on a vote-split between the governing Progressive Conservatives and the upstart Wildrose party, while ensuring health care remains its top issue.
His victory came one week before the long-ruling PCs hold the first ballot of their own leadership race. An election should follow, either immediately or in the spring.
"We're re-engaged, we're reignited, we're excited, we're coming back," Dr. Sherman said after his win was announced Saturday at a University of Alberta gym in front of about 100 supporters and many empty chairs. He issued a message to his former caucus colleagues. "I'd like to tell them: 'Hey guys, the Alberta Liberal party's coming back and I look forward to a very exciting election, a very competitive election.' "
Dr. Sherman won with 54 per cent on the first ballot. MLAs Hugh MacDonald and Laurie Blakeman finished second and third, ahead of Bill Harvey, an aide to a former Liberal leader, and Calgary union leader Bruce Payne.
In total, 8,640 votes were cast online, over the phone and in person – part of a new system the party's young executive used to grow its membership. About one-third of the party's 28,000 supporters and members cast votes in a process overseen by British Columbia's former chief electoral officer.
Liberal MP Scott Brison has suggested it's a model the federal party should consider, although some of the unsuccessful candidates complained that the process was flawed.
Mr. MacDonald and Ms. Blakeman both pledged to stay with the party, but were clearly not enamored with the results.
"I would say Raj got the first-ballot victory. Let's live with it and let's move on," Mr. MacDonald said.
"Um, well, there's certainly more diversity than we had yesterday, and that's a good thing," Ms. Blakeman added.
Dr. Sherman has a tendency to find himself backpedaling. For instance, he has stated repeatedly that he would sit as an independent until the next election. On Saturday, he said he would "look forward to my invitation from caucus to have me join them."
Outgoing leader David Swann, who will stay on as an MLA, urged party members to band together.
"Everyone in this room has one job – stand up united in support of that leader," Dr. Swann said. "At this time in our history, we can't afford division."