Mike de Jong entered the B.C. Liberal leadership race Wednesday, promising to get the views of residents during the campaign at town hall meetings including those in Prince George.
At the same time as de Jong announced his candidacy, Solicitor General Rich Coleman said he would not enter the race.
De Jong joins Moria Stilwell and George Abbott who announced last week, and Kevin Falcon who announced Tuesday.
Falcon, who made his announcement in Surrey, then flew to Prince George to make a northern launch of his campaign, saying the province needs a premier who puts the North and rural B.C. on an equal footing with the Lower Mainland and Victoria.
Both de Jong and Abbott's organizers say the candidates are planning to visit Prince George, but have not nailed down a schedule.
"I don't pretend to have all the answers," said de Jong, in launching his campaign in his hometown of Abbotsford. "That's why I want to have a conversation with B.C. Liberals and the people of B.C. to hear new ideas, test them, and see what we can do - that's my leadership style."
Unlike Falcon and Abbott, de Jong did not have any caucus support lined up.
Neither Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell, the forests minister, nor Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, the transportation minister, have said whether they will endorse a candidate during the campaign.
Bell has said he is "waiting and watching.
Bond's staff said she is not making any comments on the leadership race.
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad, whose riding is just west of Prince George, has endorsed Abbott.
De Jong, like the other declared candidates, said he would move up the date of a referendum on the harmonized sales tax slated for Sept. 24, 2011. However, he said he would not reduce the 12 per cent HST, as Falcon has said he would do.
Political scientist Norman Ruff said Tuesday he views de Jong as a centrist candidate similar to Abbott.
The key now is to see if radio talk-show host Christy Clark, a former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister, enters the race, said Ruff, a professor emeritus at the University of Victoria.
Ruff said he believes the New Democrat opposition is worried about Clark entering the race, considered more removed from current Liberal candidates and Premier Gordon Campbell's tenure.
"We'll get past the point where we know who is running. Then we'll have to see what they stand for, and to what extent they are Gordon Campbell clones, or whether they represent a fresh start," he said.
However, the NDP also have their problems, noted Ruff, pointing to the call Wednesday by veteran NDP MLA Jenny Kwan for leader Carole James to submit to a leadership convention.
It's incredible to see what's happening to the NDP, particularly when the Liberals are in trouble, said Ruff.
The Liberals popularity has tumbled since introducing the HST.
The Liberal leadership opened up when Campbell announced suddenly nearly four weeks ago he was stepping down half way through his third term. Campbell acknowledged he had become a lightning rod for public anger, largely over the HST.
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