Jon Lord, a former two-term Calgary alderman for Ward 8, announced his intentions to run for mayor in this fall's election this afternoon. In 2001, Lord ran, and won, as a PC candidate in the constituency of Calgary-Currie. Lord was defeated in the 2004 election by Liberal MLA Dave Taylor, a former radio personality for QR77, by less than 600 votes.

In an email to his friends and supporters press release, Lord says he is "looking for advisors, ideas, organizers and volunteers by the dozens.... people who can phone their friends, circulate fliers, donate their time, and perform dozens of other tasks."

Lord writes that other "high-profile" candidates are also organizing to run and notes that his campaign is "not that well organized."

This makes Lord the second candidate to officially throw his hat into the ring since three-term Mayor Dave Bronconnier surprised many last month announcing this will be his last term. Last week, activist Paul Hughes declared his intentions to run for the mayor's seat. Also-ran Alnoor Kassam, who spent $1 million on a failed campaign in 2007, has said he intends to run, but is still building his campaign team.

Other names that have been tossed around as potential candidates include: Ward 12 Ald. Ric McIver, Ward 4 Ald. Bob Hawkesworth and Mount Royal University professor and Calgary Herald columnist Naheed Nenshi.

Here's Lord's email:

I am writing to let you know in advance that I will be seeking election to City Council this year - and I intend to run for Mayor. With that in mind, I am writing to seek your opinions, ideas, and candid thoughts about this campaign. 
Obviously, in order for it to succeed, this campaign will require many people to be supportive and involved. We are looking for advisors, ideas, organizers and volunteers by the dozens.  We are looking for people who have a passion for "Making a Difference" in our communities and our City.  We will require people who can phone their friends, circulate fliers, donate their time, and perform dozens of other tasks.
Are you interested? Want to hear more, maybe even become involved? 
I have to be honest: at this point we would be very much the underdogs, with no certainty of winning.  A number of other high-profile candidates will likely be in the running and are starting to organize now. We are not that well organized yet ourselves.
However, I strongly feel that with your help we can bring many things to City Council that no one else really can.  Ideas and initiatives that are needed not just in Calgary, but maybe even across the world.  I know we have the potential to create these successes, because we Calgarians live in a city that is both uniquely blessed and uniquely positioned to do so. Surely with visionary leadership, a little Alberta grit, our exceptionally educated population, energy and resources, and an attitude that says "Yes we can!" Calgary has the potential - and maybe even the responsibility - to achieve incredible things in coming years. We are a "can-do, has-done, not-afraid to try" kind of people. So let's set our sights higher - let's dream bigger dreams.  For starters, how about setting a goal of developing the best municipal governance structures and policies, the best citizen involvement processes, and the most effective use of tax dollars of any major City on earth - independently verified.  It is much more possible than people may think - the hall mark of my past political career was researching, generating, and introducing many ideas in this direction. This is why I want to have this opportunity, to get ideas like this - mine, yours, and others - off the drawing board and into action in our community.
Will it feel a bit like an uphill battle? Of course it will. But on the plus side, I've certainly been the underdog before, faced serious opposition before, and ended up winning. I have rare experience and background, a proven track record of accomplishment, and an exceptional work ethic. We will contribute valuable ideas to the electoral debate; we will meet a lot of great people, and we will create something we will all be proud of.  Although a win is not easy or assured, it is possible, if enough of us work together with focus, passion and purpose. We will approach the campaign with practical goals in mind, and good business sense. Without question, if enough of us come together on this, I believe success is not only likely, but inevitable.  Does this sound like something you would like to be involved with?
I propose we create a positive, ideas-driven campaign. We can build upon the work my team and I were able to accomplish in my past political experience, of which there is much to be proud of. I know that an election for Mayor is not just about me or any one individual. It's about you, and all of us Calgarians. With the help, ideas and contributions of people like yourself, I know our City could go so much further and do so much more in the world. Yes, we have a lot of work to do in our own backyard first, of course - you have to walk before you can run. But the most important decision right now, is to just get started.  
Let's do it!