Chatham-Kent-Leamington Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga has withdrawn from the provincial election after the NDP expressed concern about her nomination.
In a statement Thursday, Festeryga said he had been sidelined due to the NDP’s “relentless personal attacks” and to protect his family and name.
“This decision was also made based on my personal sense of morality and ethics,” said Festeryga, who has turned down an interview request from CBC News.
His withdrawal comes just one week before the June 2 election, with early voting already underway.
The new Democrats have alleged that the Liberal Party broke the election rules when it presented the nomination papers for Festeryga.
On May 12, the Liberals announced that Festeryga would run for office following the removal of former candidate Alec Mazurek after the NDP shared posts on social media containing homophobic insults made eight years ago.
However, the dismissal came just hours before the deadline to submit nomination papers, which require the signatures of at least 25 constituency voters.
The NDP alleges that signatures have been transferred
According to Elections Ontario documents, “the nomination paperwork will require the signatures and addresses of at least 25 eligible voters in the constituency in which you are running. These addresses will be verified by election officials when you submit your documents.”
The NDP alleges that the Liberals transferred the signatures gathered for Mazurek’s nomination to Festeryga’s, which the party says is not allowed by Ontario’s election rules.
The party says it has been investigated, but in a statement, an Elections Ontario spokesman said it did not comment on whether it had received a complaint or whether a particular matter was being investigated.
The NPD held a press conference on Wednesday with outgoing Essex MP Taras Natyshak, saying there was evidence of fraud, and called on Liberal leader Steven Del Duca to withdraw Festeryga as a candidate.
At a news conference in Toronto on Thursday, Del Duca accused the NDP and its leader, Andrea Horwath, of trying to undermine a candidate. It did not directly address whether the NPD’s allegations were credible.
“The fact that when we’re all supposed to do more to encourage women, in particular, to grow up and run for office, Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP would be out there attacking a woman every day, questioning their integrity. “To question their reputation, to try to do everything they can in the most despicable way imaginable is, again, frightening and inconceivable,” Del Duca said.
Horwath responded to Del Duca when he spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon, saying he should take responsibility for his actions.
“Electoral fraud is electoral fraud. You don’t just point the finger at other people. You stand up, admit you’re wrong, and try to do better next time,” he said.
In his statement, Festeryga said it was “sad” to see what the NDP has become under Horwath, and accused the party of trying to prevent people from voting liberal.
“I have been a Liberal candidate in this area in three federal elections. In this provincial election, Elections Ontario has verified my candidacy. No other candidate has raised any concerns about my nomination,” Festeryga said.
The following candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are running in Chatham-Kent — Leamington:
- Trevor Jones, Progressive Conservative Party.
- Rhonda Jubenville, New Blue Party.
- Brock McGregor, NDP.
- Rick Nicholls (incumbent), Ontario Party.
- Jennifer Surerus, Green Party.