WESTVILLE – Westville’s Roger MacKay is out of the running in Central Nova.
The Westville resident announced Aug. 19 on social media that he is withdrawing as the Conservative candidate in the October federal election campaign.
“While I consider the reason for this personal, I assure you it’s not a decision I took lightly,” he said.
MacKay, who earlier this month took a three-month leave of absence from his post as Westville mayor, thanked those who supported him and his campaign and said he believes in federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer and the plan in place.
When reached by The News on Monday night, MacKay refused to explain the reasons for his withdrawal, and he said he also doesn’t know what Central Nova Conservatives will do to find a replacement. He also said he doesn’t know if he will immediately return to his mayoral position in Westville.
Just hours before the announcement Roger MacKay had put up on post on Facebook stating: "Please join my friend Peter MacKay and I on Tuesday August 27th at the Westville Civic Hall Gym! Looking forward to seeing you there."
Roger MacKay said he could not confirm whether the event was still happening or not and that that information would have to come from the party.
Asked if the former Central Nova MP Peter MacKay could be running for the seat he told The News, "I couldn't tell you. You'd have to ask him that."
Peter MacKay could not immediatey be reached for comment, but President of the Central Nova Conservative Association Ryan Sharpe said he does not believe that Peter MacKay has plans to step in.
"I haven’t heard that Peter MacKay is stepping back in," Sharpe said. "I wouldn’t think Peter is coming back. He still has three young children and that was kind of his main reason for stepping away as MP."
Sharpe said Roger MacKay's resignation was for personal reasons and the timeline was very tight from the time the party found out to the time the announcement was made.
Sharpe said the executive will be meeting to discuss next steps and said they do still have time to choose a new candidate before the deadline.
"It’s never optimal for a campaign, but it’s not something that’s impossible to do and I don’t think it’s going to hold us back too much."
