With the closure of the nomination period for the upcoming 91大黄鸭 West byelection Wednesday afternoon, Elections B.C, confirmed five candidates will vie to replace former MLA Christy Clark.
In addition to the already announced Ben Stewart (B.C. Liberal), Shelley Cook (NDP), Robert Stupka (B.C. Green Party) and Kyle Geronazzo (Libertarian), the B.C. Conservative Party announced Wednesday afternoon it will also field a candidate.
Mark Thompson鈥檚 candidacy was not announced until after closure of the byelection nomination period.
A former city councillor in Saskatoon, Thompson has lived in 91大黄鸭 for more than 20 years and owns and operates an information technology company that caters to the retail sector.
He ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the B.C. Conservatives in 91大黄鸭 Mission in the 2009 provincial election and finished third, well behind winner Steve Thomson, who held the riding for B.C. Liberals. Prior to Thomson鈥檚 win, that riding was held by the late Sindi Hawkins.
In 2014, Thompson ran for mayor of 91大黄鸭, finishing a distant third to winner Colin Basran. In 2011, he ran unsuccessfully for a council seat in 91大黄鸭.
In its news release, the B.C. Conservatives said Thompson has had a long history with the party and has served in a number of roles, including as deputy leader.
Locally, Thompson also served as deputy chairman of the now defunct 91大黄鸭 Advisory Planning Commission.
On Wednesday, B.C. Conservative interim leader Scott Anderson welcomed Thompson鈥檚 entry into the byelection campaign.
鈥淭he citizens of 91大黄鸭 West deserve better and they should demand better. In Mark they will find an accomplished individual and a seasoned politician, and I can鈥檛 think of anyone better able to present our common sense platform to the citizens of West 91大黄鸭,鈥� said Anderson.
The 91大黄鸭 West byelection will go Feb 14.
The riding includes West 91大黄鸭 and downtown 91大黄鸭 and two all-candidates forms have been announced, one on each side of Okanagan Lake. On Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at the Westbank Lions Community Centre in West 91大黄鸭, the Greater Westside Board of Trade and the 91大黄鸭 Chamber of Commerce will host a forum. On Feb. 2, at 11:30 a.m., the Okanagan Young Professionals Collective will host a forum at the Okanagan Innovation Centre in downtown 91大黄鸭.
Tickets are not required for the West 91大黄鸭 forum, but are for the 91大黄鸭 event. Those tickets are available .
The public is invited to submit questions for the candidates at the 91大黄鸭 forum by emailing them to kelownawest2018@gmail.com before Jan. 29.
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