Barrie MP Patrick Brown confirmed Sunday that he will run for leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party.

Reports of his decision to run for leader have been circulating since June without official confirmation until Sunday.

Over 350 people were present when he announced his campaign.

Brown has won his federal seat three times in Barrie and is promising to rebuild the party from the bottom up.

“I'm tired of seeing us loose elections we should have won, I'm tired of us scoring goals on our own net,” said Brown. “I believe we need to grow the tent of our party and as so one who has not been involved with past policy failures, past defeats, I don't owe any favours to insiders at Queens Park. I can begin a fresh start.”

Brown says he will continue working as Barrie MP in the meantime.

MPP of Chatham Kent Essex Rick Nicholls says Brown’s federal experience will give him an advantage.

“He has excellent communication skills, he also has an excellent opportunity to touch base with any federal member he wants. We need that as the PC party of Ontario. We need a closer relationship with our federal cousins.”

There are now four official candidates to become leader of the Ontario PC’s: Monte McNaughton, Christine Elliott, Vic Fedeli, and now Patrick Brown.

The MPP from Nepean-Carleton Lisa McLeod is also expected to run.

The leadership became open when former leader Tim Hudak resigned after losing his second consecutive election in June.

Candidates have until the end of January to announce their campaign, and a new leader will be elected May 2015.