Our local conservative mp colin mayes and his church group!

Director fired over e-mail joke
Scott Neufeld / Vernon Courier
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

...“I suggested to a board member that the board member take Jacquie and Colin (Mayes) out to Lumby and sign up members of a new congregation so they could stop any godless infidels from coming on to the board,” said Lehn who did not attend Monday’s meeting. “What I found on the board was that they were basically all members of (Mayes’ church) congregation.” ...


Director fired over e-mail joke
Scott Neufeld / Vernon Courier
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

An e-mail that some directors found offensive led to the firing of a board member in the local Conservative riding association.

Miles Lehn said directors took offence to one of his e-mails resulting in his firing at a meeting Monday night. He said the e-mail was written in jest.

“I suggested to a board member that the board member take Jacquie and Colin (Mayes) out to Lumby and sign up members of a new congregation so they could stop any godless infidels from coming on to the board,” said Lehn who did not attend Monday’s meeting. “What I found on the board was that they were basically all members of (Mayes’ church) congregation.”

Lehn said he still supports the Conservative Party and Prime Minister Stephen Harper but did not feel comfortable on the current board.

“It seems to have gone in the direction of dirty liberal policies and tactics,” he said.

Lehn is now the 10th board member to resign since March including Armstrong mayor Jerry Oglow, who was recently elected chair of the North Okanagan Regional District.

But Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes said the loss of 10 members from the 30 member board is not a sign of upheaval within local Conserva-tives – giving Oglow’s resignation as an example. He said several directors have moved away, were forced to resign because of work commitments or had health issues.

“This happens in every (riding association) across the country,” Mayes said. “Really there are only two resignations that are related to people who felt not necessarily happy with the outcome of the nomination.”

Mayes said that he is not worried that the apparent disunity within the riding association will hurt his re-election hopes.

Mayes said his support is still strong after receiving 72 per cent of the vote in the nomination race and 46 per cent of the vote in the 2006 election.

“I’ve been working very hard for the constituency and have received very good support,” he said.

Mayes said that although he is not an actual member of the Conservative board, he attends the meetings and is confident they acted appropriately in removing Lehn.

Board president Lori DeJong would not confirm the reason for Lehn’s termination saying that he would be informed in a letter. She said she hopes the board will be able to move forward.

also see: with a different swing: CHBC News

Party Trouble (Video)The infighting continues among Conservatives in the riding of Okanagan Shuswap. A party executive has been ousted from the board, but he's going down swinging. F U L L S T O R Y