Jones to run for official leadership

At the time of the Pen's deadline no other candidates had put their name forward, but the ballot is open for another two weeks.

Ms. Jones seemed undaunted by the prospect of contending with Danny Williams and his sky-high approval ratings.

"When I took on this job in 2007 the premier was strong in the polls and held a majority government, but I wasn't concerned by that because it's my job to be a voice of the people in the province and bring issues forward on their behalf," she told the Pen by phone last week.

"I think I've done a tremendous job in influencing public policy and getting enormous government investment in certain regions of our province that had been overlooked... and I've been a strong voice for rural Newfoundland and issues that affect these people directly, like the fishing industry, forestry and health."

Ms. Jones said the fact the Williams government holds 43 out of the 48 seats in the House of Assembly was no reason to shirk from the official opposition leader role.

"We need an alternate government and I think the people of Newfoundland and Labrador mostly understand the importance of a good, strong opposition. It's important, or you undermine democracy," she said.

"I feel like even though the numbers are stacked high in favour of Danny Williams, we need that alternative and I plan on being a strong leader into the provincial election next year."

Ms. Jones served as Mayor of Mary's Harbour from 1991 to 1996. She was elected to the House of Assembly in the 1996 general election as an independent candidate and later joined the Liberal caucus in the legislature. She was re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007, and was the first woman to lead the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Acknowledging her party would have quite a job to swing public opinion away from the Progressive Conservative party in the election set for next fall, she takes the view that nothing is impossible.

"We may not come out with the government but we will come out winning more seats than we have today - I'm very confident about that," she said.

"I've been in this business for 14 years and I've seen leaders with 75 percent approval ratings and they didn't last and I feel very confident that with this government that things will change."

egraney@northernpen.ca