TORONTO -- The race to lead Ontario's PC party has turned into a four-way sprint.
Still stinging from former leader John Tory's by-election loss last month, all the candidates seeking the leadership already hold seats in the Ontario legislature.
Now they must convince party members that they can return the Conservatives to government.
PC party spokesman Mike Wilson said the candidates have until May 14 to sign up new party members.
"Anyone who's a member up to that point will be allowed to vote in the leadership process," Wilson said.
Members will cast ballots on either June 21 or June 25, and the results will be revealed at a PC convention in Markham on June 27.
The race doesn't come cheap: Each candidate has to give the party a $50,000 registration fee, a $25,000 refundable deposit and 20% of funds raised after the first $75,000.
They're not allowed to spend more than $750,000 on their campaigns.
When the registration period ended at noon Friday, there were four names on the leadership ballot -- Christine Elliott, Randy Hillier, Tim Hudak and Frank Klees.
Here's a quick Sun Media snapshot of the contenders:
CHRISTINE ELLIOTT
WORK: Lawyer
FAMILY: Husband (federal Finance Minister) Jim Flaherty, and triplet sons John, Galen and Quinn
AGE: 54
CAMPAIGN CATCH PHRASE: We've simply been reminding Conservatives they can find us at "votechristine.ca"
PERSONAL VEHICLE: Chevrolet Trailblazer -- plenty of room for my three 18-year-old sons and all their sports equipment and friends
LAST PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL: A private member's resolution to create a comprehensive mental health and addictions strategy
WHO'S IN HER CORNER: Former MPPs Janet Ecker and David Tsubouchi, MPPs John O'Toole and Sylvia Jones, and of course my husband, Jim Flaherty.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, and currently learning French
MOST UNUSUAL SKILL: Extreme multi-tasking
WHAT SHOULD 'CONSERVATIVE' MEAN: We must become a strong, growing party that shares the aspirations, hopes and dreams of Ontarians.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE LEADER: I am a Conservative with the real-life experience to expand our base of support and defeat Dalton McGuinty in 2011.
RANDY HILLIER
WORK: Electrician
FAMILY: Wife Jane and four children
AGE: 56
CAMPAIGN CATCH PHRASE: A Conservative candidate for a Conservative Party
PERSONAL VEHICLE: 2005 Ford pick-up truck
LAST PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL: Red Tape and Regulatory Review Act
WHO'S IN HIS CORNER: Libertarians, Conservatives, people seeking change.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English and Honesty
MOST UNUSUAL SKILL: Straight talk
WHAT SHOULD 'CONSERVATIVE' MEAN: Conservatism, to me, embodies freedom, justice and democracy. Our party should embrace its principles and offer people a real choice in government.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE LEADER: To give everyday people a voice
TIM HUDAK
WORK: tourism and economic development
FAMILY: Wife Deb Hutton and daughter Miller
AGE: 41
CAMPAIGN CATCH PHRASE: Right for Ontario
PERSONAL VEHICLE: 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
LAST PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL: The Fairness for Families Act (income splitting for Ontario families who choose to have a spouse stay at home or work part-time)
WHO'S IN HIS CORNER: Former premier Mike Harris, half of caucus and more than half of the 2007 PC candidates
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English
MOST UNUSUAL SKILL: Has an uncanny recall of obscure 80's new wave bands
WHAT SHOULD 'CONSERVATIVE' MEAN: Middle-class values like rewarding hard work and ingenuity, supporting working families, lower taxes, living within our means and respect for rule of law.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE LEADER: As leader, I will help restore Ontario to its rightful place as a powerhouse of economic growth and job creation for families.
FRANK KLEES
WORK: Businessman
FAMILY: Wife Jaine and two adult children, Alissa and Robert
AGE: 58
CAMPAIGN CATCH PHRASE: Klees for Premier
PERSONAL VEHICLE: Jeep Cherokee
LAST PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL: The first bill to be co-sponsored by MPPs of all three parties; the Holodomor Memorial Day Act, commemorating the Ukrainian Holocaust.
WHO'S IN HIS CORNER: Tory MPPs Peter Shurman and Jerry Ouellette, party activist John Capobianco, former candidate and Toronto councillor Paul Sutherland and former MPP Garry Guzzo
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English and German
MOST UNUSUAL SKILL: Playing the accordion
WHAT SHOULD 'CONSERVATIVE' MEAN: Fiscal and social responsibility. Those who are able should be responsible for themselves and their family, while ensuring those who are not can live with dignity.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE LEADER: I have the right mix of business experience, party activism and senior cabinet experience to lead our party and to serve as Premier of Ontario.
