PRESS RELEASE FROM LADNER CAMPAIGN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 2008
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Bob Ransford 1-866-824-8337

NPA PRESIDENT MUST RESIGN AFTER ATTACKING
MAYORALTY CANDIDATE


VANCOUVER - Vancouver NPA President Matthew Taylor has been called on to resign his position after publicly demonstrating an unacceptable bias in his scurrilous attack of one of the two candidates seeking the Party's Mayoralty nomination.

The call for Taylor's resignation comes from the campaign of Councillor Peter Ladner, who was openly criticized by Taylor in a news article in today's Vancouver Courier newspaper.

Bob Ransford, speaking on behalf of the Ladner for Mayor Campaign, said Taylor's criticisms of Ladner's campaigning, the allegations he leveled at Ladner and his impugning of Ladner's commitment to the Party amounts to a shocking and unconscionable assault on one of two candidates contesting the Party's nomination.

Ransford said Taylor's comments reveal a total lack of judgment on the part of the senior Party official charged with conducting a fair and democratic nomination process.

"Matthew Taylor must resign immediately as NPA President to protect the integrity of a Party that has always prided itself in promoting the democratic process in civic politics in Vancouver," Ransford said.

"I am certain that NPA Board members will agree that their President has jeopardized the Party's reputation and the integrity of the nomination process by going far beyond what might be considered fair comment."

Since Taylor chairs a Board of Directors charged with ensuring all candidates are treated equally and that the nomination process is conducted fairly, the Board has no option but to accept his resignation, according to Ransford.

Ransford said Councillor Peter Ladner has strived to conduct a campaign based on integrity and one that focuses on issues that are important to the people of Vancouver. When the attention of the campaign is diverted by internal attacks of candidates by senior Party officials, it makes it extremely difficult for voters to see that the Party cares about their issues.

"Peter Ladner has tried to engage all Party members in a serious discussion of issues that are important to Vancouverites. He looks forward to continuing the discussion on these issues during the final week of the nomination campaign. That's why this latest diversion must be concluded quickly with Taylor's immediate resignation."

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Contact: Bob Ransford 1-866-824-8337