Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce president Jason Cox had announced his intentions to seek the position left by MP Stockwell Day after he announced his retirement last week, however, his nomination form did not get there in time.
According to Cox, a misunderstanding regarding the deadline for UPS’s overnight delivery services prevented him, and at least one other potential candidate, from getting the nomination forms to the Conservative’s head office in Ottawa on time.
“There were a couple of us candidates that went to UPS first at the recommendation of the people involved with the nominating committee locally on the timeline that they suggested and when we got there apparently it needed to be there by 1 p.m.,” explained Cox. “We were there at close to 3 p.m. and that was the timeline that we were given. And obviously someone was in error so I went from there straight over to Canada Post and got it in.”
Canada Post told him that if he paid for the extra priority it would get to Ottawa in time but, according to the packaged tracking number, said Cox, it missed the flight out of Kelowna and did not arrive until Monday.
“I am very disappointed that it didn’t work out. I think it would have been a really good opportunity for myself and for the constituents to have me on the ballot but there is nothing I can do about it now,” said Cox.
“I am still a loyal Conservative party member and I will be out there to make my choice as well.”
The Okanagan Coquihalla Conservative Association will have held their nomination meeting Tuesday night after press time to select a candidate to replace retiring MP Stockwell Day in the next election.
On the ballot is Penticton councillor Dan Albas; Day’s former parliamentary assistant Marshall Neufeld; and West Kelowna landscaping business owner Russell “Rusty” Ensign.
The results of the vote will be posted at: www.pentictonwesternnews.com and in Friday’s newspaper.