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Exiled MLA Derek Fildebrandt says he may try to fight for a United Conservative Party nomination — despite being barred from running by UCP Leader Jason Kenney.

Fildebrandt, the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks, left the UCP caucus last summer over legal issues.

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In February, Kenney said Fildebrandt would not be allowed to rejoin the UCP caucus or seek a party nomination because the MLA had not disclosed he faced illegal hunting charges.

But in an interview this week, Fildebrandt said he may simply ignore the fact he’s been banished from the party.

“I’ve received quite a lot of encouragement to run, be it to say ‘damn the party elites’ and seek the (UCP) nomination regardless of what any other politician has decreed without the constitutional power to do so, or to run as an independent,” he said.

The MLA acknowledged that could require a legal challenge to the party to establish his right to run. Canadian political parties generally have significant leeway in how they determine their candidates.