Redmond offers for P.E.I. NDP leadership

Charlottetown's Mike Redmond has relaunched the leadership race for P.E.I.'s NDP.

Redmond is the only candidate for the job currently, but he is not the first to offer.

Trevor Leclerc offered in March, following the resignation of James Rodd in February. But Leclerc withdrew in advance of the convention in May. He was the only candidate at the time, and he said he didn't want a coronation.

Mike Redmond is the facilities director at Murphy's Community Centre in Charlottetown, and is also well known in the Island's soccer scene. The 43-year-old said if elected he wants to make the party a real choice for voters, not simply a place to park a protest vote.

In its history, the party has only ever elected one MLA to the legislature.

Redmond declared the same day the party announced details of its leadership convention.

It is set for Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Prince Edward Hotel. The doors open at 9 a.m. followed by nominations and then voting for a new leader. A new leader is expected by early afternoon.

Federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair will be a guest speaker at the convention.