Abbotsford gourmet hotdog vendor Skully White has announced he is no longer seeking the nomination for the federal Conservative Party in Abbotsford-South Langley.
White, the owner of Lullys Food Experience, announced the decision in a social media post on Thursday (Dec. 5), saying he is stepping back to devote more time to his family.
White married his wife Kelly, a single mom, in September 2023.
“I love this community and always will, but anyone who knows me knows that family comes first,” White wrote in the post.
“Our youngest child, who has autism and IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities), is having a difficult time transitioning through adolescence into manhood.
“My wife is a rock star, having dealt with this by herself for 18 years, and my heart is telling me I need to be close to home to be her support and to help her navigate this next chapter.”
White, 55, announced in May of this year that he was seeking the nomination, joining four others vying for a chance to run in the 2025 federal election.
The Abbotsford-South Langley riding will replace the Abbotsford riding, which is currently held by Conservative MP Ed Fast, who in March announced he will retire from federal politics after 18 years.
Still seeking the nomination are former longtime Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong; Fast’s executive assistant, Mike Murray; Steve Schafer, the vice-president of the Langley-Aldergrove Constituency Association; and Shanjeelin Dwivedi, who has served as a director of parliamentary affairs with two MPs as well as a senior adviser and campaign volunteer.
A date for the nomination vote has not been announced.
White has been a relentless advocate for finding living donors for people in need of transplants after he experienced the life-changing difference it makes in someone’s life.
In late 2020, White donated one of his kidneys to customer Tim Hiscock.
He stated in his social media post that he will continue with this endeavour.
White said that recently seven new people in need of a new kidney signed up, bringing the total in the community to almost 30.
“After much soul searching, I recognize how important helping save lives through the kidney campaign means to me and I want to devote my time to helping this cause,” he said.
White said he might re-enter the political ring in the future, “as the notion of helping our community on a larger scale” calls to him.
