The Green Party is without an Okanagan-Shuswap candidate leading up to this fall’s federal election.
Dave Smith has withdrawn his candidacy due to what he calls “irreconcilable differences on campaign policy and strategy among members within the local Green Party.”
When contacted, the Coldstream resident would not provide further details.
“I really don’t wish to because I wish the party well. I’d like to leave them with the greatest opportunity possible and not dirty laundry,” he said.
“The Green Party has a very broad range of participants and I find myself at one end of the extremes. I’m a prudent accountant and fiscally conservative and that didn’t work very well.”
Smith says he wishes the party well in finding a new candidate and he says he has appreciated the efforts of campaign members who have supported him.
He also goes on to say that he continues to stand behind party leader Elizabeth May.
“My support for Green policy is totally there, especially for extreme environmental challenges. I hope other parties can pick up on it.”
The Okanagan-Shuswap Green Party executive says it’s “saddened” by Smith’s resignation.
“Dave was an excellent candidate, whose rationale and reasonable approach to our transition to a greener and fairer economy has been popular with the public,” states the executive in a release.
“With our support at about 20 per cent and growing, Dave would have had a real shot at providing the citizens of Okanagan-Shuswap with effective Green representation. Politics is often a thankless pursuit but all Canadians owe thanks to those people who put themselves forward as public figures in pursuit of the public good.”
The executive goes on to say that it will continue to run a strong campaign during the election.
“Dave’s resignation opens the door for someone to step up and carry his work forward. We will be actively searching for the right candidate over the coming weeks.”