Liberal MLA not yet sure who to back for leadership

The BC Liberal leadership race is just getting underway and Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick wants to take stock of all candidates before deciding which one to support.

Letnick said Monday he hasn’t yet made up his mind who to back in the race to succeed Christy Clark.

“I’ve decided to support the person I believe will best lead this province going forward in the best interests of my constituents, children and granddaughter,” Letnick said in an email.

“Who that is yet I don’t know,” he wrote. “Over the coming weeks, I’m going to listen carefully to all the candidates and then meet with people in my riding to get their thoughts before making a decision.”

Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson was attending the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Vancouver and couldn’t be reached.

The perceived front-runner in the Liberal leadership race is former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts, with former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan second, according to an Insights West poll.

Other declared candidates are MLA Andrew Wilkinson, MLA Mike Bernier and Terrace businesswoman Lucy Sanger.

Michael Lee, MLA for Vancouver-Langara, is expected to announce his candidacy today. Former finance minister Mike de Jong and former transportation minister Todd Stone are also expected to join the race.