The Conservative campaign in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca is unraveling. Public Eye has exclusively learned Tory Vancouver Island campaign manager Troy DeSouza is having an emergency meeting today with Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca campaign manager Gary Del Villano to discuss what to do about candidate John Koury who is "essentially having a breakdown," says a party member.
Mr. Koury, who previously worked as incumbent candidate Keith Martin's executive assistant, is reportedly under an "immense amount" of personal financial stress, having staked his professional career on winning the election. That stress, coupled with Mr. Koury's volcanic personality, has poisoned his relationship with campaign staffers and affected his debate performances. Those performances have sometimes degenerated into personal attacks against his former boss, who crossed the floor and became a Liberal.
In fact, the situation is so bad that Mr. Del Villano actually approached Mr. DeSouza and John Vukovic, both of whom ran for the Conservative nomination in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, about re-opening the nomination process, says another member. Instead, a decision was made last Sunday to "keep John off the campaign trail" - a decision made easier when Mr. Koury got into a car accident on Tuesday, losing control of his mini-van on Shawnigan Lake Road.
Conservative MPs Gary Lunn and John Reynolds have also had discussions with Mr. Koury "just to calm him down," as has retiring MP Deborah Grey. But the situation deteriorated further last night when Mr. Koury delivered a disastrous performance at an all-candidate debate sponsored by the Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce, yelling at Mr. Martin and an audience member.
According to the first source, the containment strategy is "basically to keep him out of the public as much as we can, out of the debates and keep him mainstreeting or something like that" until Election Day.
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In reference to your article, "Apocalypse Now" I have to wonder if this is the correct approach for the Conservative Party to take. If John has "lost it," then it is time to get him out. I am not voting along party lines in this election but rather on the individual who can do the most for the riding. No matter who is elected federally, there will still be the outpouring of money and benefits to Ontario and Quebec. I want someone who will look after us in our riding. I know that Keith Martin can do this. All one has to do is look at Keith's track record. It isn't a good time to be gambling on a candidate who is unproven or who may suffer from stress related problems. If it is bad now, what will it be like in Ottawa?
Keith Martin and his Liberal minions can go fuck themselves with their bullshit propaganda.
The Conservative candidate in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca is not very different from other Conservative candidates in British Columbia. They are everywhere avoiding all-candidate debates and media interviews. It's like they have all been stuck in the witness protection program until June 29. In Fleetwood-Port Kells (Surrey), we are trying to meet and debate Gurmant Grewal's wife Narinder Grewal, but it's darn near impossible to find her.
Ron Churchill
Campaign Manager in Fleetwood-Port Kells for Dr. Gulzar Cheema
It seems that Mr. Churchill doesn't have a campaign plan if he is chasing after another parties candidates. How many votes can he garner by talking with Mrs Grewal?...or even, in a public debate in front of an already committed crowd. I always felt that a candidate could meet 40 to 60 new voters in the three hours that was wasted at a public forum. If Mr. Churchill thinks he can win Mrs. Grewal's vote, he has a flawed strategy.
Mr.Kourey was supposed to be on the newvi today but his Conservative handlers kept him from going on. Whatever this means it's really not a good sign and the reason why is because it makes him look crazy -- he's going to loose the riding.
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