B.C. Conservative leadership race narrows to 5 as Warren Hamm drops out, backs Yuri Fulmer | CBC News
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The race to lead the B.C. Conservatives has narrowed to five candidates after contractor Warren Hamm of Rossland dropped out and threw his support behind entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer.
Hamm says Fulmer is a “true conservative” and the only candidate who can unite the right while protecting the party from a “liberal takeover” and “becoming B.C. United 2.0.”
Fulmer says he welcomes Hamm’s endorsement and his decision to join his team, adding that Hamm advocated for “common sense” conservatism and a government that respects taxpayers.
Still in the race are MLA Peter Milobar, commentator Caroline Elliott, former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black and former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
Thank you to everyone who supported this journey. BC needs real change—leaders who understand business, budgets, and results. To move that forward, I’m supporting @yurifulmer and his team. He is the only other builder in this race and together we can win. Let’s unite, defeat the… <a href=”https://t.co/teaTzyKTGP”>pic.twitter.com/teaTzyKTGP</a>
—WarrenHamm
Hamm was the first candidate to declare his run for the party’s leadership, following Rustad’s ousting in December, in a race that eventually attracted 11 declared candidates.
He was one of nine candidates to make the party’s first official cut, and stayed in the race longer than four sitting MLAs and former Pattison executive Darrell Jones.
Jones and two other former candidates, Bruce Banman and Harman Bhangu, both members of the provincial legislature, dropped out of the race last month.
Banman also threw his support behind Fulmer while Jones and Bhangu endorsed Elliott.
Hamm’s announcement comes just before April 18, the cutoff date to sign up new members and the deadline to pay the final $60,000 instalment to stay in the race.
The party will start to distribute voting ballots no later than May 9, and the winner will be announced on May 30 at the party’s leadership convention.