Two candidates put their names forward to run for the leadership of the Wildrose Alliance at the party's annual general meeting in Bearspaw yesterday.

Danielle Smith, 38, and Mark Dyrholm, 38, each announced they want to take over from current leader Paul Hinman, who announced in April he would be stepping down.

Smith, the former director of Canadian Federation of Independent Business, finished a speech to the AGM by announcing her candidacy.

"There's a lot of unhappiness with this government and part of the reason is they don't listen, they don't consult, they come through with decisions that aren't well thought through, they end up having to back-track and in the cases where they don't back-track when they should, it demonstrates they're dug in and not willing to listen," she said.

Dyrholm, a chiropractor, said he was motivated to run for the Wildrose leadership by what he sees as a lack of fairness and openness.

"I believe Alberta needs better government than it's getting right now from the Stelmach government," he said.

The new leader will be chosen at the party's convention set for Oct. 17 in Edmonton.

DAVE.DORMER@SUNMEDIA.CA