Presumptive NL Premier abruptly quits politics

The leadership of Newfoundland and Labrador’s governing Progressive Conservatives was thrown into a tailspin Monday after the man who had a clear path to becoming the province’s next premier suddenly dropped out of politics.

Frank Coleman, 60, a successful businessman based in Corner Brook, said he decided to leave public life because of a “significant and challenging family matter.”

He would not elaborate at a news conference in St. John’s, saying only that his family comes first.

Coleman was supposed to become leader of the party at a convention on July 5, then be sworn-in as premier shortly after.

The party has been in power since 2003 and began the search for a new leader in January when Kathy Dunderdale quit politics. Tom Marshall has been serving as premier on an interim basis since Dunderdale left.

Coleman emerged as the sole leadership contender earlier this spring after one candidate dropped out and another was barred from running by the party.

Coleman has been under intense scrutiny since his wife Yvonne and other members of his family joined a pro-life march on Good Friday, as they have done for years. He later denied that his pro-life views would affect access to abortion.

He also had to defend the province’s cancellation of a Labrador highway contract without any penalty that was awarded to Humber Valley Paving. He had previously led the company but has said he sold his shares last winter and resigned from the board of directors just before entering the leadership race in March.