Scott Anderson

Image Credit: FACEBOOK: Scott Anderson

Vernon Mayoral candidate Scott Anderson is backtracking on a statement he posted saying he had the "backing" of the majority of the current council.

"I'm proud to say I have the backing of the majority of council because I have a plan, leadership ability, and the drive to make things happen," Anderson posted to Facebook Oct. 13.

iNFOnews.ca managed to speak to five of those councillors and none of them would lend any more than tepid support. When this was put to Anderson, he said he should have used the word "confidence" and not "backing".

"It was probably the wrong choice of words," he said. "What I meant was I had the confidence of them."

Several hours later, the wording remains on his Facebook page.

The closest Coun. Anderson got in terms of support was from Coun. Kari Gares, although she reiterated she wasn't backing anyone.

"I work well with both (candidates) but I work best with Scott," Coun. Gares said. "But I'm not publicly backing him or any of the candidates because it is up to the public to decide."

Coun. Brian Quiring said he wasn't backing any mayoral candidate.

"I don't back Victor, I don't back Scott," Coun. Quiring said. "I've been on council with both of them, I like them both, but they have to win it on their own merit, it's up to the community."

Coun. Teresa Durning's comments were similar.

"I will work with whichever one of them is elected," she said. "I don’t publicly back anyone because we have to sit beside each other potentially for four years so it's better if we don't do that."

Coun. Kelly Fehr, who tends to sit on the opposite political side from Coun. Anderson said he wasn't backing anyone.

However, he did throw his weight behind Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming.

"What I will say is that I think Victor Cumming has done a very good job in leading council and the administration over the last four years," he said.

Councillor Akbal Mund simply said, "(same) as last election, I will not be commenting on who I am voting for."

Anderson has backtracked previously using the reason that he said the wrong word.

In July, he was the only member of council to vote against flying the rainbow flag from city hall in celebration of Vernon's first-ever pride week.

Coun. Anderson said the City shouldn't wade into "social issues."

After being criticized, he later retracted his comment saying he shouldn't have used the word "social."

While the four councillors have said that they are not publicly putting their support behind Coun. Anderson's campaign, there is nothing to say than haven't quietly told him he has their support.

It's also noticeable that mayoral candidate Erik Olesen's name was left out of the conversation.

Scott Anderson's Facebook post.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK: Scott Anderson, Politician

READ MORE: Where, when, and how, to vote in Vernon Oct. 15

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