Men not wanted as Liberal candidates

107.5 KISSFM By Peter McIntyre

A Shuswap resident says he's being urged not to run for the Liberal nomination in the Okanagan Shuswap riding, because he's a man. Jake Ootes of Celista, who ran for the nomination in 2007, won't seek the position this time. He doubts he would have been successful after being told by a "senior party organizer", they would prefer a woman, to meet leader Stephane Dion's goal of having one third female candidates. "I strongly support the idea of more women in the political process and at the decision-making table. I just don't believe that the affirmative action process that's being used is the right way to go about it." I kind of got the indication it would be difficult for me to proceed because if I got through with the nomination process, I could still be advised they wish to run a female candidate." Local Liberal official Lorraine Kastelen has acknowledged to KISS FM, she would favour a female candidate to help Dion reach his goal. The only candidate for the nomination so far is Janna Francis, the president of the Okanagan Shuswap Liberals. The former candidate, Buffy Baumbrough, stepped down in June, to continue at municipal politics (she's currently a first term Vernon city councillor), and work at her family's business.

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Starlee Speers Astral Media Radio (Vernon) Liberals Only Want Female Nominees?

A former Liberal nominee for the Okanagan-Shuswap riding says he won't run again in the interest of party unity. Jake Ootes says while he believes there needs to be more female politicians, he doesn't agree with the process in which the Liberals are trying to attain that. " I received a phone call from BC headquarters to say they were below their target of 35 percent women in the Province here, especially with Buffy Baumbrough stepping aside and that they wish to continue with the need for more women candidates." Ootes says he wasn't told not to seek the nomination but was left with the impression he'd be denied the nomination if he decided to pursue it. The deadline for nominations closes on Friday with only Janna Francis on the ballot so far.