91原创 Township councillor and former BC United candidate for 91原创-Walnut Grove Barb Martens has decided not to run as an independent in the upcoming provincial election.
Martens had been considering her options since Aug. 28, when BC United leader Kevin Falcon essentially dissolved the party, formerly known as the BC Liberals, throwing his support to the BC Conservatives and their leader John Rustad.
A few BC United candidates were moved over to run for the Conservatives, but Martens was not among them.
Some former BC United candidates have decided to run as independents, rather than support the Conservatives.
"It was a very tough decision," Martens said of her decision not to run.
She expressed her gratitude towards the volunteers who had dedicated their time to her campaign.
"There were a lot of people working hard for months on this campaign," Martens said.
She felt that they had been gaining momentum in the riding.
"I felt like I was letting them down if I didn't run," she said.
However, she said she decided that in the end, it was not her time to run for provincial office.
"I'm not saying never," Martens said.
She said she believes that after this election, another centre to centre-right party will emerge in B.C.
On the positive side, Martens said that she made a lot of connections and talked to a lot of local residents during her campaign.
In her statement announcing her decision, Martens said she wished all of the candidates running the best of luck in the campaign.
The candidates in 91原创 Walnut Grove will be incumbent 91原创 East NDP MLA Megan Dykeman and BC Conservative candidate and Township councillor Misty vanPopta.
"That's never a waste of my time," she said.
