FILE PHOTO: Nancy Bepple announced she is seeking the NDP nomination for Kamloops-South Thompson, Aug 30, 2016.

(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - With one of the candidates for the NDP’s nomination in the south Kamloops provincial riding stepping down, it’s likely former city councillor Nancy Bepple will be acclaimed.

Lillian Kwan, a retired Kamloops teacher, issued a press release saying she is stepping out of the race for the NDP’s nomination in the upcoming provincial election. Peter Northcott, president of the NDP’s Kamloops-South Thompson Riding Association, says Bepple will probably be the nominee, but possible others could step forward.

“It’s unlikely someone will step forward at this late stage,” he says. “But you never know in politics.”

In the release Kwan says she’s stepping down due to “personal and family circumstances.” While he says it’s unfortunate to see Kwan step out of the race, Northcott supports her decision.

“I regret she’s stepping down but I understand,” he says. “I wish her well.”

Party rules state someone can declare their intention to seek the nomination up to four weeks before the riding association votes. The nomination vote is scheduled for Dec. 11, which means a person could declare up to Nov. 10. They would still have to go through the provincial party’s vetting process though, and have a shorter period of time in which to gain supporters in the riding association. Northcott doesn’t expect to see someone challenge Bepple this close to the vote.

“There’s been lots of interest over the last few months,” he says. “But realistically at this late a date I would be surprised.”

In the same riding the Liberal party has already acclaimed incumbent Transportation Minister Todd Stone, while the Green Party has city councillor Donovan Cavers running. The Communist Party will be running Beat Klossner in the same riding.

In the Kamloops-North Thompson riding Barbara Nederpel from the B.C. NDP, Dan Hines of the Green Party and Peter Kerek of the Communist Party are running. They will face one of B.C. Liberal Party nominees: Mayor Peter Milobar, North Shore Business Improvement Association executive director Stephen Puhallo or local developer Michael Grenier. The Liberal riding association will vote Nov. 19.

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