Kieron Testart drops out of N.W.T. Liberal race, supports Michael McLeod
Testart, former president of the N.W.T. Liberal Association, says party 'cannot afford to wait any longer'
The race for the Northwest Territories' Liberal Party nomination has been reduced to two, after former N.W.T. Liberal Association president Kieron Testart dropped out of the race today to throw his support behind former Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod, who announced his candidacy last week.
McLeod, the brother of Northwest Territories' Premier Bob McLeod, will run against Yellowknife's Gail Cyr in the race for the Liberal nomination.
Testart, who works for the territorial government's Department of Justice, said in a post on Facebook Thursday afternoon that the last year has "been an incredible journey.
"I am proud of our accomplishments, of the support I have received from Northerners, and of the hundreds of new Liberal Party members who have joined our movement for real change," said Testart.
When asked by CBC News why he was choosing to support McLeod, Testart said in a Facebook message that "as Liberals, we cannot afford to wait any longer to have our candidate in place for the election.
"With the election days away, decisive leadership was needed to ensure a united team is behind our movement for real change," said Testart. "Michael is a great candidate who has the experience and character to lead us to victory."
The to-be-named Liberal candidate will face Conservative nominee Floyd Roland and incumbent NDP Member of Parliament Dennis Bevington in the upcoming federal election, which is expected to be called on Sunday.