Photo: Castanet Staff

Marshall Neufeld in 2015.

Penticton realtor Marshall Neufeld announced he no longer plans to seek a Conservative nomination in next year's federal election.

Neufeld had previously said in April he planned to run for the nomination.

He was elected the Conservative candidate ahead of the 2015 federal election and earned just under 30 per cent of the vote for the South Okanagan - West Kootenay riding. He finished second by about 5,000 votes to NDP candidate Richard Cannings for the local MP seat. 

In a Facebook post Saturday, Neufeld said the decision to withdraw his candidate application was a difficult one, which he had contemplated since attending a friend's funeral in May.

"That event caused me to reflect on what I wish to spend my days on at this stage of life.  Other personal matters in the last two weeks have encouraged this reflection," Neufeld said.

He went on thank those who have been "so encouraging in wanting to see me run in the next election and who have been eager to get involved in the electoral process, with the goal of giving Canada a good and professional government."

Neufeld previously spent three years as a national councillor of the Conservative Party of Canada. Before that, he was the senior parliamentary assistant in Ottawa to the Hon. Stockwell Day.

Penticton city councillor Helena Konanz is the now the only person currently in the political ring for the riding's Conservative nomination next year, having announced her plans to run for the candidacy in June.