Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton is running double duty on the campaign trail, seeking re-election as mayor while also running as the BC Conservative candidate in the Vernon-Lumby riding.
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Acton → run → riding
Acton was already seeking another term as mayor when a snap provincial election was called.
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election → seek → mayor
Rather than withdraw from the municipal race, he decided to run in both elections.
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he → withdraw → elections
“It’s always been my intention to run conservative provincially and so it’s just the way it’s happened,” Acton said.
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Acton → run → ?
“It’s really bad timing.
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It → ’ → ?
Eby decided to call an election during the municipal elections for the province.”
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Eby → decide → province
Acton says he would prefer to remain mayor if he does not win the provincial seat.
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he → say → seat
“I would love to be the mayor again for another four years if I don’t win the provincial election,” he said.
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he → love → election
The decision could create confusion for some voters, according to Hamish Telford, a political science associate professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.
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decision → create → Valley
“I also say electorally, people might have questions about a candidate’s motivation.
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people → say → motivation
Oh, you’re running from two elections to see which one turns out best, rather than working for what is in the best interest of how voters respond,” Telford said.
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Telford → run → interest
While Acton said he understand some may see the decision as a self-serving one, he defended it saying he believes it is in the best interest of Lumby residents and democracy at the local level.
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it → say → level
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“They deserve a proper election, and there’s only one other opponent running in this election.
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They → get → election
So if I withdrew, he would just automatically get the seat, and I don’t think that’s fair to the voter,” Acton said.
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Acton → withdraw → voter
In Lumby, residents Global News spoke with said they have no issue with Acton’s decision to run in both races.
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they → speak → races
“Good for him if he is able to see which one comes up and work with that,” said Lumby resident Alan Simpson.
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Simpson → see → that
“If the provincial one wasn’t called after the municipal one, then yes, I would have a problem but because it was forced on him to make a decision now, no, I don’t see a problem,” said John Strack, another Lumby resident.
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Strack → call → problem
If Acton wins the provincial election, Lumby residents would have to return to the polls to choose a new mayor in a byelection.
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residents → win → byelection
Acton says he would personally cover the cost of the municipal byelection through a donation to the village.
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he → say → village
Covering the cost of a municipal by-election personally is not unprecedented.
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Covering → cover → election
In 2013, former Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton wrote a cheque for more than $30,000 after winning a seat in the legislature and triggering a by-election to fill the vacant mayor’s position.
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Ashton → write → position
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groups → give → designation
BC NDP promises to lower gas costs while BC Conservatives embrace pipeline
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Conservatives → promise → pipeline
Ford government spent $2 million on McKinsey contract amid push for healthcare savings
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government → spend → savings
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Telford questions whether individuals should be able to personally cover the costs of byelections.
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individuals → tumble → byelections
“I am quite concerned by this idea that the citizen can pay for a byelection.
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citizen → concern → byelection
If that is in fact the case, then that’s a loophole that has to be closed,” Telford said.
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Telford → ’ → fact
Elections BC confirmed it does not administer costs related to local election administration.
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it → confirm → administration
For Acton, the goal is to continue serving the region, regardless of which election he wins.
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he → continue → election
Municipal elections are scheduled for Oct. 17.
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elections → schedule → Oct.
The provincial election takes places one week later on Oct. 24.
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election → take → Oct.
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