If successful, the former lawyer and small business owner would become the first female leader of the party and the first Black leader of any of Nova Scotia’s main political parties.

Nova Scotia’s two main opposition parties are seeking new leaders, and a member of the Liberal caucus has become the first of either party to officially announce a leadership bid.

Angela Simmonds, who was first elected to represent the riding of Preston in the Aug. 17 provincial election, said last Friday she is running to bring “a new energy and direction” to the province and Liberal party.

“I need to do this because I believe it’s the right thing to do,” she said in an interview. “We (Liberals) need someone with life experience and a diverse lens.”

If successful, the former lawyer and small business owner would become the first female leader of the party and the first Black leader of any of Nova Scotia’s main political parties.

Simmonds said the Liberals need to break down barriers so that more people of diversity feel they can run for positions such as leader. “It’s really emotional when I think of what this could mean for so many that look like me.”

She said part of her message will be that the party needs to be in touch with “everyday Nova Scotians.”

Her announcement came a week after the Liberal party released early details for the process of replacing Iain Rankin, who announced last month he would step down as leader in the wake of the party’s defeat in the August election. Rankin was chosen last February to succeed former two-term premier Stephen McNeil.

The Liberals have set a deadline of March 21 for candidates to register and will hold a leadership convention via electronic and phone voting on July 9. The vote will be by preferential ballot using a weighted, one member, one vote model. The party has set a candidate registration fee of $25,000.

Cape Breton University political scientist Tom Urbaniak says the Liberals have an existential problem because the Tories largely managed to run left of the Liberals on many issues during the last election.

“Are they going to be a progressive party? Are they going to insist on strict fiscal management?” Urbaniak said. “All of those issues will be confronted during the leadership race.”

He said he also wonders whether the Liberals have given themselves enough time to attract a number of diverse candidates. He said a tight deadline last year didn’t serve the party well when only three men, including Rankin, stepped forward.