ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's governing Progressive Conservative party is poised to pick a new leader Saturday.
The winner will soon be sworn in as the province's 12th premier and must call an election within 12 months of taking office.
A confirmed 686 voting delegates and more than 200 observers are meeting in St. John's, where they hope the old-style leadership convention will help revive their embattled party.
They will choose from three former cabinet ministers: Steve Kent, Paul Davis and John Ottenheimer.
The Tories have held majority power since 2003 and were a potent force under former premier Danny Williams.
But the party's popularity has slumped since former premier Kathy Dunderdale won re-election in 2011 after Williams retired from politics in 2010.
Dunderdale quit Jan. 24 amid questions about her leadership and after Newfoundland-wide power blackouts.
The party has lost four straight byelections — three of them in districts that were held by senior cabinet ministers, including Dunderdale.
Each candidate had a chance to speak before first-ballot voting, starting with Steve Kent, by far the youngest at 36 in what's expected to be a close race.
Kent is a career politician who was first elected to Mount Pearl city council near St. John's at 19. The former municipal affairs minister, a strident defender of his government's record, has said he'd use social media and hire a professional organizer to help pull his party from its recent doldrums.
He said the Tories can take much credit for record income growth, capital investment, poverty reduction and housing starts.
"We are where we are as a province because of where we've led as a party," Kent said.
"These are the kinds of records that (Liberal Leader) Dwight Ball and the Liberals can only dream about. This is what we built together.
"Now is not the time to go backwards."
Paul Davis, a 53-year-old former police officer and spokesman for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, echoed that theme.
"Don't count us out," he said to roars and chants of "Davis!" from his camp.
Pundits who've written the party's death warrant aren't always right, he said. Pollsters wrongly predicted election results in B.C., Alberta, Quebec and Ontario, he said.
"And mark my words, they'll be proven wrong again right here in Newfoundland and Labrador."
The former health minister was diagnosed in 2011 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma but has since recovered.
Davis said as premier he would work to ensure offshore oil wealth — $19 billion in royalties since 1997 — is better shared around the province, including a revamped fishery.
