Candidates spar over signs

A pair of Penticton-Summerland MLA candidates are sparring over signage — one claiming broken election rules, the other alleging "bullying" tactics.

Amelia Boultbee, Conservative, and Tracy St. Claire, unaffiliated, are running to represent the South Okanagan riding in the upcoming provincial election.

St. Claire was the BC United — formerly BC Liberal — party nominee until that party folded its campaign in late August.

BC United candidates around the province have since, in some cases, been incorporated into the Conservative Party, whether by joining the ballot or adding their support to the local candidate. BC United leader Kevin Falcon openly urged support for the Conservatives.

St. Claire announced recently she would not be taking that route, instead citing voters who urged her to stay on the ballot as another option.

Boultbee has publicly expressed concerns about vote splitting between herself and St. Claire.

On Thursday, St. Claire shared publicly on social media that Boultbee, through her lawyer Michael Welsh, has threatened St. Claire with a report to the BC chief electoral officer because St. Claire's signs have retained the former BC United colour scheme.

The signs and social media banners do not contain the BC United name but do have the same or similar colours. On some older physical signs, the BC United name has been covered by an added panel rather than the signs being completely re-covered or re-designed.

The letter sent to St. Claire from Boultbee through her lawyer alleges in part that St. Claire is falsely associating herself with BC United — which has openly suspended its campaign in all B.C. ridings.

St. Claire is confident she is not in the wrong. She took to social media to share the letter in the name of transparency.

She added in the Facebook post: "I will not be bullied or intimidated by Amelia Boultbee or her lawyer."

In a phone call with Castanet, St. Claire said former BC United candidates including herself have been "working closely with Elections BC," ensuring best practices.

"Particularly around what the rules would be for how we would use signs, our existing signs ... So not only is it allowed, I think it was understood that a lot of us were going to do that," St. Claire said.

During a separate phone call, Boultbee reiterated her concerns.

"Branding is incredibly important. Identifying yourself to voters is incredibly important. I believe this branding is intentionally misleading. It's not just about repurposing materials. She has created new materials, with the old branding and voters are confused," Boultbee alleged.

"That is my concern, right before the polls open."

She expanded on her response in an open post on Facebook Thursday night.

Boultbee and St. Claire are vying for the Penticton-Summerland MLA spot alongside NDP Tina Lee, Green Party Bradley Bartsch, and independents Roger Harrington and Anna Paddon.