Image Credit: B.C. Conservative Party
June 11, 2013 - 6:00 AM
Former Penticton candidate for the B.C. Conservatives Sean Upshaw will be squaring off against Premier Christy Clark in the by-election for Westside Kelowna. Last week Ben Stewart announced he would be stepping down as MLA to allow Clark to run for the Westside riding after losing her seat in Vancouver-Point Grey.
Upshaw says he's happy to step up to the plate on behalf of the B.C. Conservatives.
"There was no Conservative locally willing to step up... Brian Guillou didnt want to re-run," he says.
Upshaw received 2,277 votes in the May provincial election, which he says, "is a pretty good total."
"The provincial party followed my campaign and liked what they saw," he says.
Upshaw has lived in Kelowna for 11 years, which he feels gives him more experience with the community than Clark.
An NDP candidate has yet to be announced but Upshaw says, "I look forward to squaring off against that individual.”
“We need to recognize that we have a B.C. Liberal majority government and that we have a premier who wasn't elected in her own riding," he says.
Upshaw says a Conservative MLA would help keep the Liberal government accountable. He says Clark hinted she could provide "goodies" if taking over the Westside riding.
"What I need to prepare for... is to let people know they don't have to buy into the election bribery, goodies or handouts that could possible come," he says.
"That shouldn't be the reason we elect somebody."
Upshaw expects Clark will call the by-election in early July.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013