NDP candidate in B.C. election quits over racy photos in Facebook

Last Updated: Monday, April 20, 2009 | 10:52 AM PT

The Canadian Press

Ray Lam, the NDP candidate for Vancouver-False Creek, resigned on Saturday after racy photos were uncovered on his personal Facebook page. (Facebook) An NDP candidate has withdrawn from the B.C. election over racy photos that surfaced on the social networking site Facebook.

Ray Lam, the New Democrat candidate for Vancouver-False Creek, announced his decision Sunday night.

One of the photos showed Lam grabbing a woman's chest, while another depicted two people clutching at his underwear.

``An issue was made regarding inappropriate material on my private Facebook page,'' Lam said in an email statement. ``I regret this material and the associated comments that have now become public.

``I do not want this to be a distraction in the election campaign and have advised the party that I am stepping down,'' he said.

Lam apologized to B.C. NDP Leader Carole James and wished her party the best of luck in the May 12 election.

New candidate to be named

NDP president Jeff Fox said the party would nominate a new candidate in the next few days to run in the Vancouver-False Creek riding.

Ray Lam, shown with two friends, apologized after racy photos were uncovered on his personal Facebook page. (Facebook)

Lam's chief opponent, Liberal candidate Mary McNeil, said the entire debacle showed Lam's inexperience.

``It's not a matter of the fact that the photos were there. It's that voters hold you up to a certain standard and they should and I think sometimes if you do things like that, it's just not appropriate,'' she said.

``I think, quite frankly, they were just inexperienced and it shows a lack of judgment.''

When asked if she thought this might help her chances of winning the riding, McNeil said she doesn't think so.

``I still have an opponent out there,'' she said. ``I'm just talking to folks in the riding. I think the big issues for them are the economy and crime and that's what I want to focus on.''

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VIDEO: Rosa Marchitelli reports: NDP candidate in B.C. election quits over racy photos (Runs 2:22)

Overall Results

Overall Election Results
Party	Elected	Leading	Total	Vote Share (%)
Updated: May. 13, 2009, 1:16 AM PDT
LIB	49	0	49	46.02
NDP	36	0	36	42.06
GRN	0	0	0	8.10
CON	0	0	0	2.11
OTH	0	0	0	1.72

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All results are unofficial until final ballot counts are verified by Elections B.C.

STV referendum overall results

Question: Which electoral system should British Columbia use to elect members to the provinical Legislative Assembly?

The existing system (First-Past-the-Post)
The single transferable vote electorial system (BC-STV) proposed by the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform

Electoral District Vote

BC-STV

First-Past-the-Post

51 RIDINGS

Ridings 7/85

Ridings 78/85

Updated: May. 13, 2009, 1:16 AM PDT

85/85 ridings reporting

Total Popular Vote

BC-STV

First-Past-the-Post

MAJORITY 60%

560,430 votes | 38.82%

883,259 votes | 61.18%

Updated: May. 13, 2009, 1:16 AM PDT

What it needs to win:

For the referendum to be binding, the approval level must be:

more than 50% of the votes in at least 51 of the province's 85 electoral districts, AND
at least 60% of the total popular vote, province-wide.

If the two thresholds are met, government is required to introduce legislation to implement BC-STV in sufficient time for it to be in place for the May 2013 General Election.

B.C. Votes Headlines

Huntington defeats Oppal in B.C. election recount: Independent candidate Vicki Huntington has defeated high profile B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Wally Oppal in the riding of Delta South in one of two provincial election recounts concluded on Tuesday.
Oppal falls behind in see-saw Delta South recount: B.C. Liberal Wally Oppal fell behind in Monday's initial recount of ballots cast in Delta South in the May 12 provincial election. Absentee votes will still need to be counted Tuesday before the final result will be announced Wednesday.
Record low voter turnout in B.C. election: Voter turnout in B.C.'s provincial election hit a record low on Tuesday, with only 50 per cent of eligible voters bothering to vote, a full eight percentage points less than the 58 per cent that voted in 2005.
Oppal awaits results of recount for Delta South seat: There will be an automatic recount in the Delta South riding after preliminary election results show star Liberal candidate Wally Oppal beat independent Vicki Huntington by a mere two votes.
Re-elected Campbell to focus on strengthening B.C.'s economy: Gordon Campbell says reviving the province's economy is his main task as he heads into a historic third straight term as the province's premier, but other issues — such as health care and the environment — are also on the agenda.

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NDP candidate in B.C. election quits over racy photos in Facebook

Last Updated: Monday, April 20, 2009 | 10:52 AM PT

The Canadian Press

New candidate to be named

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