Neufeld pulls out of race to be Tory candidate in SOWK

Marshall Neufeld has withdrawn his named to be a candidate for the Conservative nomination in South Okanagan-West Kootenay.

In an email to supporters sent Saturday, Neufeld said the timing wasn’t right.

“This decision has been building since attending the funeral of a friend in May,” the Penticton realtor wrote. “That event caused me to reflect on what I wish to spend my days on at this stage of life.

“Other personal matters in the last two weeks have encouraged this reflection. and my determination has been that running for elected office is not the right decision for me at this point in my life.”

In an interview with print journalist Dustin Godfrey of April 6, Neufeld said he was seeking the nomination in SO-WK for a second time. Unlike his previous run, Neufeld did not host a press conference, nor did he contact the daily newspaper and other outlets.

In June, Penticton city councillor Helena Konanz announced her intention to seek the nomination, stating she would not seek re-election to council. Among those to endorse her were Dan Albas, member of Parliament for Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola, and other retired MLAs and MPs.

Neufeld has a long history with the Conservative party, dating back to the days of working in Stockwell Day’s office in Ottawa.

He twice ran for the nomination, receiving the local riding association’s blessing in 2015. He lost to NDPer Richard Cannings be nearly 5,000 votes. He was criticized by party loyalists for attending only select candidate forums, ducking media interviews and not accepting an invitation to Pen-Hi for a candidates’ forum.

Nominations for the SO-WK nomination close at the end of the month.