The Ontario Liberal Party is searching for a new leader, but former Barrie mayor Jeff Lehman says he won’t be in the running.
In a Facebook post on Sept. 22, Lehman said he has decided not to seek the leadership, citing family and professional commitments.
“Over the past week I've been honoured by the number of calls and messages I've received encouraging me to run for leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. I have a deep love for this province and belief that there is so much good work to do across Ontario,” he wrote.
“However, my family is my first concern, and I need to put them first as we navigate the next steps on Nova's health journey. I also made a commitment to Muskoka that I don't intend to break. As such, I won't be seeking the OLP leadership.”
Lehman said he looks forward to watching the leadership contest unfold.
“It’s my hope OLP will choose a format for the leadership race that allows many candidates and the widest possible participation. Many good people are looking at the race, and I encourage them all to seek the opportunity to serve.”
Lehman’s name had surfaced as a potential contender after Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie announced on Sept. 14 she would resign once a successor is chosen. Crombie revealed her decision at the party’s annual general meeting in Toronto after winning the support of 57 per cent of delegates opposed to a leadership vote. Following discussions with party executives, she stated she would step down.
Other names floated for the leadership include Toronto MPs Nate Erskine-Smith and Yvan Baker, Burlington MP Karina Gould, former MPs Marco Mendicino and Navdeep Bains, and MPPs Ted Hsu and Stephanie Bowman.
Lehman was first elected to Barrie city council in 2006 before serving three terms as mayor from 2010 to 2022. He ran for the Ontario Liberals in the Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte riding during the 2022 provincial election but narrowly lost to Progressive Conservative incumbent Doug Downey.
Since December 2022, Lehman has been the chair of the District of Muskoka. No date has been set for the next Ontario Liberal leadership election.