Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon is running for the leadership of the ruling Yukon Party, but says his decision is driven more by party loyalty than personal political ambitions.

Premier Dennis Fentie's delay in announcing his intentions, Kenyon told the Star today, "is beginning to hurt the party, and I think at this point people within the party and people outside the party are starting to wonder what's going on.”

At the Yukon Party's weekend AGM, Fentie dodged several questions from reporters about his political future, refusing to say whether he wants to continue as party leader.

Kenyon, who also serves as minister responsible for the liquor and housing corporations and the lottery commission, said Fentie's stalling creates uncertainty – one of the reasons he's put his name forward.

"It's a little frustrating ... when at day seven (in the leadership campaign), nobody's said a word, including the premier,” Kenyon told the Star.

"At some point, somebody's got to come out and bite the bullet, for want of a better term.

"I think I've got a good track record, I've got a few years left in the machinery, so it's worthwhile to take a run at it,” he said.

Later, he added that "it's not a job that I would desperately run out and go after, but it's a job I'll take if that's what the people want.”

And Kenyon's almost begrudging entry into what a day ago was a race without any horses, might have another contestant.

Darren Parsons, the would-be campaign manager for Darrell Pasloski – the federal Conservatives runner-up in the 2008 general election – told the Star today that Pasloski is considering a leadership bid but, "is reluctant to get involved.

"So it's gone from an elect Darrell campaign to a draft Darrell campaign,” said Parsons.

And with or without Pasloski, Kenyon said he is aware of "at least six” potential candidates, both within and without caucus, but he would not provide any names.

Like previous rumours surrounding a possible leadership bid by Kenyon, now a reality, deputy leader Elaine Taylor's name is being bandied about as a possible successor to Fentie, and Energy, Mines and Resource Minister Patrick Rouble hinted last week that he would seek the leadership.

But interest in who will lead the ruling Yukon Party – shooting for a third consecutive majority government – into the next election is great and all it took was one candidate for opposition leaders to come out swinging.

"Mr. Kenyon has been disingenuous about his role in the in the possibility of privatizing the housing corporation's mortgage portfolio,” Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said today.

He cited several more controversies that Kenyon found himself embroiled, including the deal the privatize the Yukon Energy Corp. and a conflict of interest complaint against the minister which was later dismissed.

And New Democratic Party Leader Liz Hanson said she doubts Kenyon will be a serious contender when it gets down to brass tacks.

"My gut reaction was this is a straw man; throw him up there, so everybody else in the Yukon Party who wants the job will come out,” she said.

"I'm not trying to demean Mr. Kenyon, but his performance in the legislature is not something I'm hearing that voters want ... we've seen this minister close down any debate and refuse to engage in important discussions.”

Kenyon, the MLA for Porter Creek North, was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.

He also made an unsuccessful bid to win the Yukon's federal seat in Parliament in 2000 under the now-defunct Canadian Alliance Party and finished in third place behind the-then NDP-incumbent Louise Hardy and current Liberal MP Larry Bagnell.