If Federal Conservative candidate Helena Konanz wins the coming election, she won't be putting money up to fill her seat at the Penticton council table. 

Black Press reached out to Konanz with several questions following the announcement from the Conservative Party of Canada that she would be the candidate for the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding. 

Konanz was not one of the nominees who had previously announced their intentions to run for the candidacy, which included former MLA Dan Ashton, Gary Johal, Chris Pequin and Kevin Klippenstein. 

Following the announcement, Pequin posted to social media that the party had gone over the local electoral district association to appoint Konanz to the candidacy. 

"The Conservative Party of Canada has denied the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay members their vote, bypassing our nominees to appoint a candidate as of Sunday," Pequin's post reads. 

Konanz did not specifically address the question directed to her about how she was chosen, the statement she gave in response was as follows:

"I was honoured to have been asked to run as the Conservative Party candidate after this snap election was called on Sunday [March 23]. I will be working hard to earn the votes of the good people of Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay so that I can join Pierre Poilievre in Ottawa to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, stop the crime, and put Canada first, for a change."

In addition, Konanz was asked whether she or the party would put any money towards a by-election to replace her in Penticton, to which she said simply, no. 

"Like many, I was not aware that the Liberals would call a snap election," she said. "I will be taking an unpaid leave of absence from city council for the duration of the federal election and will not be funding a municipal by-election if called."

The city is currently in the middle of a different by-election to replace MLA  Amelia Boultbee, who was elected to the position in October of 2024. The city set a budget of $85,000 to run the by-election when it was approved by council in January of 2025. 

Konanz, along with every other member of city council, was asked for their intentions by Mayor Julius Bloomfield ahead of the by-election bylaw being approved, specifically raising the federal election that was due to occur this year. Every councillor, including Konanz, affirmed their intention to serve out the remainder of their terms. 

While the by-election will replace Boultbee at the council table on April 5, Konanz's absence will leave the city short two voices at the council table until April 28 at the earliest, assuming Konanz doesn't win the MP seat. 

Council is already down one seat after Coun. James Miller went on paid leave in August of 2024 due to criminal proceedings against him in Ontario related to investigations into alleged historical sex crimes that are currently scheduled for trial in December of 2025. 

The next municipal election is scheduled for October 17, 2026. 

When Ashton ran for higher office in 2013, he was at the time Penticton's sitting mayor and put up $35,000 of his personal funds for the by-election to replace him. 

The Conservative Party was also contacted but no communications were received by publication.