Leclerc first into P.E.I. NDP leadership race

Trevor Leclerc, who ran for the NDP against Premier Robert Ghiz in the last provincial election, is the first to put his name forward to be the new leader of P.E.I.'s New Democrats.

Leclerc, chair of AIDS PEI, said the hardest task for the new leader will be to convince Islanders that many of his party's policies align closely with the views of people on P.E.I.

"The main challenge and the main goal for the new leader of the New Democrats will be to let Islanders realize that [Islanders] are at heart New Democrats," he said.

"We have that New Democratic spirit already, and in a lot of ways we may be voting by habit."

NDP Leader James Rodd announced in early February he won't seek another term as leader of the party. A leadership review was to be held this spring but has now been postponed until October to give candidates time to prepare.