Parksville Mayor Ed Mayne dropped out of the BC Liberal Party leadership race today saying he hopes George Abbott wins.
"At least we're going to be able to affect the outcome of this selection process," Mayne said. "You have to have the courage to make the right decisions at the right time and this is the right time."
Mayne thanked his supporters and campaign team and said he realized during the campaign that Abbott is the best of the other candidates to take the party beyond 2013 and keep the party relevant. "As I listened I realized one stood out as the type of person I could fully support, one who is more alligned with the way we were thinking, and a fellow small town guy."
Mayne said he intends to run in the next provincial election, either in Parksville or elsewhere. Parksville-Qualicum is now represented by Liberal Ron Cantelon.
Abbott congratulated Mayne on his campaign, thanked him for his support and said he would encourage Mayne in provincial politics. Abbott cited Mayne's business experience and how he'd talked about poverty during the campaign. "He's not concerned only with the economics of our world, but the social balance of our world and I want to thank Ed for bringing that up."
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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