The former BC United candidate is offering full-on support for his former rival in the new Juan de Fuca-Malahat riding.
Herb Haldane was replaced by BC Conservative candidate Marina Sapozhnikov after BC United leader Kevin Falcon officially ended the party's campaign at the end of August.
Haldane, a former councillor for the District of Sooke, is endorsing BC NDP candidate Dana Lajeunesse, who currently serves on Sooke council.
"I have known Dana Lajeunesse and his family most of my life," Haldane said. "They are grassroots people who have given a century of time to this area and our community. Dana is a hardworking and honest man who will do his best representing us and delivering for Sooke people, just as Ravi Parmar has done and John Horgan before him."
He said Parmar was the first politician to offer condolences, followed by BC Green candidate David Evans and Lajeunesse. Parmar, the incumbent in the former Langford-Juan de Fuca riding, is running in the new Langford-Highlands riding in the Oct. 19 provincial election.
While Haldane pointed out the NDP is not his party, they did get Sooke road improvements and other concessions that improved the community.
He said Sooke has a long history of people and families with different organizations and political affiliations working together in a non-partisan fashion for the common good, citing the Sooke Community Association, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club and other organizations as examples of that.
"And that (collaborative spirit) is the most important part for me, and why I'm supporting Dana in the upcoming election," Haldane explained. "It is my bipartisan choice and I would have wanted the same consideration from Sooke people regardless of their party affiliation. I really believe this riding needs a lifelong Sooke person because this community represents almost half of the riding's population, and the Conservatives have missed that. The Conservatives should have picked someone from this community, as opposed to someone without local knowledge and experience."
Although Parmar, BC Green candidate David Evans, and Lajeunesse called to offer condolences after he was dropped without warning, Haldane has not heard from Saphozhnikov.
"I did get a call from Marina Guest on behalf of BC United," Haldane said. "She was very gracious and sincere, and offered her condolences."
After investing many hours and some of his own money in his campaign, Haldane admits he's very disappointed with the way things worked out.
"I am going to stay involved in this community one way or the other, however," he stressed.
