ELECTION 2015: What happens when you mix green and red

IT'S NOT PRETTY

KELOWNA – The federal Green Party of Canada will not be running a candidate in Kelowna Lake Country and the local riding association won’t be endorsing anyone else, although they’ve cleared the way for their members to support other parties.

The local Greens announced in July that their candidate Gary Adams had won the nomination but would step down immediately to show support for Liberal Stephen Fuhr.

The idea was to join forces in a bid to unseat Conservative incumbent Ron Cannan but the deal was never consummated at the national office.

Since then, Adams has kept a low profile and does not appear on the party website list of candidates.

Zena Ryder, CEO of the Green Party Lake Country Electoral District Association, said in a press release yesterday that the executive made the announcement because it doesn’t want to create false impressions with local voters.

“The Kelowna Federal Green Party executive will not be endorsing or supporting another political party or candidate in order to avoid creating any false impression that the Green Party endorses another party.”

Zyder says this frees up local Green Party members to volunteer for any campaign or candidate they choose.

"As there will be no Green Party candidate to campaign or vote for, Adams and other members are free to volunteer as individuals for any campaign or candidate they wish, in the Kelowna Lake Country riding or others."

Liberal Stephen Fuhr said he believes the intent of the deal is still alive and that many local Greens will likely support him on Oct. 19. He promised an announcement of his own within 48 hours.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.