Gavin Dew, BC Conservative candidate for Kelowna-Mission.
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August 14, 2024 - 12:34 PM
The upstart B.C. Conservatives have announced their new candidate for the Kelowna-Mission riding with a higher profile candidate who once sought the leadership of the now-rival B.C. United Party, just days after dismissing Alexandra Wright without explanation.
The Conservative party removed Wright three days ago.
“Yesterday afternoon the Conservative Party of British Columbia removed Alexandra Wright as a candidate. This decision was made after careful consideration of various factors related to campaign performance and conduct,” the party said on X, Aug. 11.
Wright suggested the party had other motivations for dismissing her.
Today, Aug. 14, the party named local businessman Gavin Dew as her replacement.
Dew was one of seven candidates to contest the leadership of the former B.C. Liberal Party, which has since been rebranded to the BC United.
Kelowna-Mission is currently held by BC United MLA Renee Merrifield, who announced earlier she is not running for re-election in the Oct. 19 election.
Dew joins several former BC United members who are now supporting the Conservatives, including Teresa Wat, Lorne Doerkson, Elenore Sturko and Bruce Banman, who are all current members of the legislature.
“We can’t wait four more years to get serious, end the chaos and get BC back on track," Dew said in a release. "It’s time for common sense voters to stop sifting through the ashes of our old home, put up scaffolding around the new one and focus on forming a new government."
He will be competing against Ashley Ramsay of the BC United Party. Ramsay is running in place of member of the United party, Renee Merrifield, after she made it known she had decided to quit politics.
The New Democratic Party under David Eby does not yet have a candidate for the Kelowna-Mission area.
The election will take place in just over a month on Sat. Oct. 19 leaving candidates limited time to campaign and for the NDP party to find a candidate in time.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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