MLAs Sheldon Clare and Steve Kooner said they’re withdrawing from the B.C. Conservative leadership race.
Clare said in a statement on Friday he is suspending his campaign after finding a number of the 250 required signatures submitted with his application were invalid. The MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo said a “critical number” of the signatures were from individuals who are not current party members or their memberships were lapsed.
“I take full responsibility for the deficiency in my application,” said Clare.
Kooner, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough, said in a social media post on Friday he made the decision last week to withdraw from the race.
“I’m currently in discussions with several campaigns and will be sharing more soon,” said Kooner.
They announced their withdrawal after five B.C. Conservative MLAs said on Wednesday they were endorsing Kamloops Centre MLA and finance critic Peter Milobar for the party leadership.
They are Ward Stamer, Brennan Day, Gavin Dew, Kiel Giddens and Scott McInnis.
Aside from Milobar, eight other candidates remain in the leadership race:
- Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman
- Langley-Abbotsford MLA Harman Bhangu
- Former B.C. Liberal labour minister Iain Black
- Political commentator and former BC United vice-president Caroline Elliott
- Former federal Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay
- Entrepreneur and Capilano University chancellor Yuri Fulmer
- Rossland contractor Warren Hamm
- Former grocery executive Darrell Jones
Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford has served as interim leader since John Rustad stepped down in early December under pressure from his caucus.
A new leader is to be announced on May 30.
