Stephen Mandel steps down as Alberta Party leader

After 15 months on the job and after his party failed towina single seat in the provincial election, Stephen Mandel is stepping down as leader of the Alberta Party.

The former Edmonton mayor said he will now focus onhis role as chancellor at Concordia University, and spending time with his family.

• NDP maintains Edmonton stronghold, while Mandel defeated in hometown

Though Mandel was unable to wina seat in Edmonton-McClung and hisparty was shut out of the legislature in April'selection,the party lauded hisleadership forcapturing172,000 votes in 2019, compared to 33,000 in 2015.

"Its the end of my political career," Mandel, 73, told reporters from his Edmonton office Friday afternoon.

A three-term mayor of Edmonton and former Progressive Conservative health minister, Mandelsaid he re-entered politics with the Alberta Party because he felt the province needed a different political view.

"Albertans didn't see it that way," said Mandel. "But it's time to move on."

FormerAlberta Party MLA Karen McPherson praised Mandel for his work as leader and for attracting a full slate of 87 candidates for theelection.

"It's an opportunity for the party to attract a new leader and to grow again," McPherson saidin an interview with CBC news.

McPherson, who now sits on the Alberta Party board,said despite the dismal showing in the election,the party is still activeand members are engaged.

"We have people who ran for us in the last election that arelooking tosee what's next and how are we going to build," said McPherson.

"We're putting together our strategy for the next four years."

• Stephen Mandel chosen new leader of Alberta Party

Mandel was elected to lead the Alberta Party in February 2018, beating out competitors Kara Levis, a Calgary lawyer, and Rick Fraser, the Calgary-South East MLA at the time.

The leadership race was triggered after former party leader Greg Clark stepped down in November 2017, in what he said was a bid to increase interest and membership sales in the party.

He told reporters that a leadership race would help the party reach those goals.

The party will discuss its next stepat its annual general meeting,which has yet to be scheduled.