Diane Janzen is "stepping down" from her bid for the BC Liberal nomination in Chilliwack-Hope.
In a statement issued Saturday, Janzen said "in the last few weeks there had been a growing concern over her run in the last federal election" as a candidate for the federal Liberal Party.
Janzen told The Progress Monday that the Liberal label could be used against her as a candidate in the strongly conservative riding of Chilliwack-Hope.
"It wasn't my concern," said Janzen, known for her conservative fiscal values as a Chilliwack city councillor, "but when it comes to party politics, you have to suspend your own wants for the greater good."
Janzen said she holds no bitterness toward the BC Liberal party.
"Bitterness is a wasted emotion," she said. "I have a very meaningful job and a wonderful family to turn to."
BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins characterized Janzen's decision, and the decision of a "preferred" BC Liberal candidate in the Port Moody-Coquitlam riding not to run, as "abandoning" the party
"Candidates are abandoning Christy Clark's Liberal party in key ridings," Cummins said in a news release.
"Why is the governing party having such a hard time finding qualified people willing to run in seats they won easily in the last election," he asked.
But Dale Wheeldon, head of the Chilliwack-Hope BC Liberal constituency association, said there are other candidates in the wings, and he has no doubt the party will find a "fantastic" nomination candidate to replace Janzen.
"I'm not the least bit concerned about it," he said.
Byelections are slated for Chilliwack-Hope following Barry Penner's resignation, and in Port Moody-Coquitlam following the resignation of BC LIberal MLA Iain Black.