RED DEER, Alta. — Alberta Liberals began the process of choosing a new leader Saturday to replace Ken Nicol, who is making the leap to federal politics.

The party's board of directors named Don Massey of Edmonton, the party's children services critic, as interim leader.

The nomination deadline will be Feb. 18 and the new leader will be chosen on March 27.

The first official contender was also announced Saturday.

John Reil, 55, former leader of the now-defunct Alberta First Party, said he wants the job and party officials agreed to accept his membership.

Reil, a Seba Beach farmer and owner of the Hitch Warehouse in Edmonton, said he believes the Liberals can maintain middle ground in the political spectrum.

"One of the reasons I was so confident about joining the Liberal party is that in essence, Liberal values are inclusive," Reil said. "It's wonderful to see the range and level of debate that goes between people here."

Past Liberal president Rick Miller had said the party needed to determine whether Reil shared its principles and goals.

But Massey said Saturday that Reil had been fully welcomed into the Liberal fold.

"I think that an individual's beliefs are always questioned," Massey said. "But as I said, if he has a membership, that clears him to be a full member of the party."

In the past, Reil had bristled at suggestions the Alberta First Party was right-wing. Like the Liberals, he was in favour of getting rid of health-care premiums and electricity deregulation.

But the Alberta First platform included many policies often associated with small-c conservatism, including opposition to any law that would make sexual orientation "a distinguishing feature or right," and support for sending young offenders to boot camp.

Liberal health critic Kevin Taft did not announce Saturday whether he will seek the party's leadership, but said he will make a decision in the next few days.

"I'm taking a real hard look at it," he said. "It's an incredible sacrifice to be an MLA, and to be a leader of a party even more so. Along with that it's a wonderful privilege.

"But there's considerations of family and friends. I need to make sure that it can be done properly. The party has many opportunities but it does face serious challenges and before I take on that kind of job I want to make sure the people are there to help me get it done."

Nicol, the Lethbridge member of the legislature who has led the party since 2001, announced last month he is stepping down to seek a seat for the federal Liberals.

The Tories hold 74 legislature seats compared with the Liberals' seven and the NDP's two.