Ousted Kelowna BC Conservative candidate takes former party to court

An ousted Kelowna candidate for the BC Conservative Party is taking her grievance to court after she was replaced in the middle of her campaign. Alexandra Wright said last month she was replaced because of her conflicts with a local fruit packer along with several other allegations about behind-the-scenes party activity. She is now taking those claims to BC Supreme Court. Party spokesperson Anthony Koch refused to comment on the lawsuit or any of the specific claims she made. “We dispute many of the facts as Ms. Wright states them and will be responding to her claim in due course. We will not be commenting any further while this remains an ongoing case," he said in a written response. Wright claimed the party breached its contract and its own bylaws when she was unceremoniously replaced by former BC United candidate Gavin Dew. Although the party would later say there were "performance issues" that led to her replacement, she routinely checked in with party staff as she raised funds and knocked on doors, according to court documents. No issues were raised ahead of her termination, she said. READ MORE: BC United sources leak 'extremism' file on B.C. Conservatives' executive Isidorou https://infotel.ca/newsitem/elxn-bc-united/cp1816358052 She said BC Conservative party executive director Angelo Isidorou cited vague reasons for her termination during a phone call including her performance, her lack of funds and their lack in confidence in her ability to win the election, despite the party's trust in polling numbers that suggest the Kelowna-Mission riding has been almost guaranteed since May. The only specific issue he mentioned in that Aug. 8 phone call was that she had "upset" the fruit packing industry, according to ther claim. Her horse stables happen to be near the Sandhers fruit packers, which has run afoul of the BC Environment Ministry in recent years for spills and pollution. She said her property and other nearby orchards have been directly affected. The Sandhers also offered to host a lunch for party members on Aug. 6, she said, constituting a contribution to the party. While she was still a BC Conservative candidate, Wright planned to host a fundraising event at her own property where donors were invited to watch a horse jumping show. She anticipated it would raise at least $4,000, according to her claim. READ MORE: Kelowna-Mission candidate believes she was removed due to conflict with fruit packer https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-mission-candidate-believes-she-was-removed-due-to-conflict-with-fruit-packer/it106142 She spoke with party treasurer Sacha Peter about selling tickets and how to arrange the funds in accordance with election laws. On Aug. 5, he sent her a text that read, "I have a verbal answer to your email." He called her the next day. "Mr. Peter called Ms. Wright and explained that he... could not provide a written answer to her fundraising questions because his response was not in accordance with Elections BC laws," her claim read. He then suggested that she sell burgers and drinks instead of selling tickets in the interest of "efficiency." After deducting her expenses, she would deposit the proceeds as cash donations, her claim said. She was "extremely uncomfortable" about any "irregular" campaign financing. Party executive Angus McLellan called her that same day to advise that BC Conservative leader John Rustad would be meeting with the Sandhers to discuss BC Tree Fruits bankruptcy, but she was told not to come. Once she was ousted, Wright turned to Peter again seeking reimbursement for her own personal expenses. READ MORE: 'HE WILL NOT STOP': Serial harasser has Kelowna family in crosshairs https://infotel.ca/newsitem/he-will-not-stop-serial-harasser-has-kelowna-family-in-crosshairs/it106171 She had spent at least $7,000 of her own money on her campaign, with the understanding the campaign would reimburse her with campaign donations. Once she was terminated as a candidate, she asked Peter for a partial reimbursement of $5,052. The party treasurer denied her request, citing election laws that stipulate a party can only reimburse its own candidates. So, she would not be getting any money. "It flies in the face of common sense that a political party may terminate a candidate, and then use that termination to refuse to reimburse her for her campaign expenses," her claim read. "Should (the party) be allowed to retain these funds, it shall have been unjustly enriched, and Ms. Wright may be in violation of Elections BC regulations which prohibit any person from donating more than $1,450.82 to a political party annually." She goes on to claim she was discriminated against, as the party ousted candidates who were women and people of colour when it took on former BC United candidates. Wright was offered a spot to represent the BC Conservatives in the Vernon-Lumby riding ahead of her termination, but she refused it despite an added incentive of $20,000 from the party. Wright, a trained lawyer, is representing herself in the lawsuit, which she filed on Sept. 11. The BC Conservative party has not responded in court. None of the allegations have been proven in court. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . 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