Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond gave some thought to stepping aside for Premier Christy Clark to run in a byelection in the local riding.
Clark will be campaigning in the Okanagan instead.
Newly re-elected Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart announced Wednesday his intention to step aside from his post to allow Clark a run at the seat.
"I think if you're a team player, you always make that consideration," Bond said. "And you think about what's best for your constituency, your family and for the team."
Prince George-Mackenzie winner Mike Morris had also previously said he would be willing step aside if approached to make room for Clark.
First elected in 2009, Stewart was re-elected last month with more than 58 per cent of the vote, an almost 28-point margin over New Democrat opponent Carole Gordon.
A life-long Kelowna resident, Stewart was a prominent community figure in the region prior to getting into politics as the owner of the Quails' Gate Estate Winery - the site of Wednesday's announcement. During his tenure in the legislature, Stewart held three cabinet portfolios, including agriculture and community and rural development.
Bond said she became friends with Stewart over the four years she sat in cabinet with him.
"Ben is just that kind of person. He is a team player. This is the ultimate thing that he did for both the province and for the rest of the team," Bond said, expressing her gratitude for Stewart's service. "He was a very hardworking MLA and cabinet minister and I, for one, am going to miss him but I'm very grateful he made the decision which was important for us. We needed to find a place where the premier felt comfortable and happy to run and this is the choice she made."
Clark, who lost her Vancouver-Point Grey seat to NDP challenger David Eby, said Kelowna was a natural political fit as it has been represented by previous provincial leaders W.A.C. Bennett and Bill Bennett.
Clark compared the father and son to hockey legends Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky.
"When you think of the vision that W.A.C. Bennett brought to growing our province and the vision Bill Bennett brought in controlling the growth of government spending and keeping taxes low for the people here," she said. "A great offense and a great defence."
Stewart said he was one of a number of MLAs who offered the Premier their seat.
"One of the things that is important about politics and public life is about the service and what you're there to do... and I think at the end of the day, one of the things I really believe in is what's in the best interest of British Columbia," he said.
A byelection is expected to be called next week, which would put the vote at some point in July. Clark said she and her son will spend time in the riding while campaigning and she intends to set up a second home in the area.
"I hope that with the blessing of the people of Westside-Kelowna, I can be the third premier to bring a vision to British Columbia from this community," she said, lauding the values of those who came before her politically and the riding's residents. "I will carry those values forward with hard work and with purpose and in the coming weeks I will be asking the people of Westside-Kelowna for their vote."
NDP leader Adrian Dix said the Liberals will not get a free pass from them in the upcoming contest.
"We are looking forward to running a strong campaign with an Okanagan candidate against the Premier in Westside-Kelowna," he said. "The B.C. NDP will run a candidate with local roots who can offer the people of Kelowna and West Kelowna a strong, local voice in the legislature."
Green Party leader Jane Sterk said her party will not field a candidate in the byelection, instead choosing to follow the tradition of standing back to let the Premier into the legislature.
"The B.C. Liberals won the May 14th election decisively and the riding of Westside-Kelowna by a wide margin," she said. "The voters have indicated in both instances that they want a Liberal government."
