Greg McCune has announced he will run as an Independent in the upcoming provincial election (photo from Facebook)

By Liam Verster

Provincial Election

Former mayor of Enderby to run as an Independent this October

Sep 13, 2024 | 1:30 PM

The former mayor of Enderby and B.C. United candidate for Salmon Arm-Shuswap will not be crossing the floor this October.

Greg McCune announced he would be running as an Independent in the upcoming provincial election.

In a written statement, McCune said he is centre-right minded and had been a supporter of the B.C. Liberals for 25 years, noting when he was nominated to run for the Liberals/B.C. United he was excited to have the opportunity to represent the riding against the governing NDP.

“That is why I was completely shocked when Kevin Falcon withdrew all party candidates from this election. I no longer had a political home. The thought that there would no longer be a centre-right voice in Victoria was upsetting,” McCune said in the statement.

“I believe our province is in crisis. We are facing an economic crisis. We are facing a health care crisis. We are facing a housing crisis. And now instead of tackling those issues we seem to be facing a political crisis.”

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He added he believes people “are sick of polarizing politics” that distract from the issues, and that the public is also fed up with “strategic voting or going to the polling booth without a capable candidate that represents their views.”

With those thoughts in mind, McCune decided not to seek a nomination with the Conservative Party of B.C., and instead run as an Independent in the Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding.

“People in this riding deserve the opportunity to vote for the hardest working, most experienced candidate that will represent their views,” McCune stated.

“I want people to remember I didn’t choose this. I was made a political orphan. My name is already on the ballet, and I am not quitting this race. And I will never quit on the people of this riding.”

McCune noted that Independents can play a vital role in politics, stating they can be positioned as “powerbrokers to hold government accountable” and focused on the issues.

The provincial election’s general voting day is scheduled for October 19.