Former NDP cabinet minister Dave Sloan secured the Liberal party nomination for the new riding of Mountainview at a nomination meeting last night at the Yukon Transportation Museum.

In this fall's election, Sloan will run against Premier Darrell Pasloski in the riding, which includes the communities of Valleyview, McIntyre, Granger and Hillcrest.

Sloan told the Star this morning he is "not particularly intimidated” by the fact one of his opponents is the premier.

"He's just another opponent,” he said. "I've run in tough campaigns before, so this doesn't particularly alarm me.”

Sloan said in 1996, when he was elected as an NDP MLA, the odds were against him.

"It's all about continuous work and getting yourself out there,” he said, explaining his method for campaigning.

Sloan announced his intention to run as a Liberal at a press conference in July. He said his decision to hop parties came from a "personal and political evolution” which began when then-NDP government leader Piers McDonald was defeated in his riding of McIntyre-Takhini in the 2000 election.

He said he became disillusioned by the NDP when he saw a surplus of "negativity” and a lack of support for development.

"I'm all for development,” Sloan said at the press conference. "The Liberal party is where I've found my home.”

Much of the new Mountainview riding lies within the area Sloan previously represented as an NDP MLA from 1996 to 2000.

Sloan has lived in the riding for 21 years and has two children. He currently works for the Department of Education.

The Liberal candidate will also be running against the NDP's Stephen Dunbar-Edge.

The Liberals have nominated Dan Curtis in Riverdale South, Kerry Huff in Porter Creek Centre, Sandy Silver in Klondike and Mike Simon in Lake Laberge.

Nomination meetings for Whitehorse Centre, Takhini-Kopper King, Whitehorse West and Riverdale North are set for this week.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, is seeking re-election in the new riding of Copperbelt North.

Eric Fairclough, Darius Elias and Don Inverarity will seek re-election in their ridings.

Gary McRobb, the Liberal MLA for Kluane, announced last week he is retiring from politics, saying 15 years as an MLA have been long enough.

See story on Fairclough below.

By Nadine Sander-Green

Star Reporter