It looks like Rob Anders is considering a run at the Wildrose Party leadership.
Anders, the outgoing MP for the riding of Calgary-West, told CTV Calgary that several people have approached him about taking over the leadership when current leader Heather Forsyth steps down.
Forsyth confirmed she will not run in the next provincial election for "personal reasons."
Anders told The Calgary Sun "a sense of mission and duty" has him thinking about the position.
"These people obviously want a conservative option, not a progressive option," he told The Sun, explaining that the mass-floor crossing of former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith and eight other MPs to the PCs last month could work in his favour.
Anders, who served almost 20 years as MP for Calgary-West, lost the nomination battle for the riding to former Alberta MLA Ron Liepert last April.
He went on to run in the new rural riding of Bow River, but was bested by Martin Shields, the mayor of the City of Brooks.
Anders, a controversial player in Canadian politics, is known for his strong social conservative views. In the past, he's gained attention for labeling Nelson Mandela as "a terrorist and a Communist."
He also compared the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 1936 Berlin Games, which were held when Germany was under the control of Adolf Hitler.
According to the Calgary Herald, at least two Wildrose MLAs – Drew Barnes and Shayne Saskiw – are considering running for the leadership.
The Wildrose will hold a leadership vote between March and September of this year.
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