Liberal MLA Kent Hehr is expected to announce his bid for the mayor's chair at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Calgary today. Long rumoured to run in this October's civic election, Hehr was first elected to the Alberta legislature in 2008 representing the constituency of Calgary-Buffalo.

Hehr's entrance will undoubtedly add some colour to a decidedly dull race thus far — seriously, the hottest campaign topic to date: reigning in the Calgary Parking Authority.

The first-term MLA wouldn't have to resign his legislative post, and could instead take a leave of absence during the election campaign.

However, a win by Hehr, considered by many to be one of the few bright lights in the Alberta Liberal camp, would undoubtedly be a blow to the already limping political party. Last month, disgruntled Grit Dave Taylor left the party in a huff declaring his unhappiness with the direction the party was (or wasn't) taking and blaming any and all party woes on leader Dr. David Swann.

Bridget Pastoor, Liberal MLA for Lethbridge-East, has also openly considered running for mayor in Lethbridge. (Note: I was just informed by Bridget Pastoor's constituency manager that Pastoor will not be running in the upcoming municipal election.)

Other declared mayoral candidates for Calgary include aldermen Ric McIver and Joe Connelly, former alderman and MLA Jon Lord, businessman Alnoor Kassam and activist Paul Hughes.