A St. Catharines Councillor is expressing his disappointment as former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown exits the leadership race.
Brown made the announcement yesterday, saying his campaign and the media circus surrounding it had taken a toll on his family.
"It's tough to see his family in tears, to see them being attacked in the media, to see his girlfriend on the front page of the Toronto Star," St. Catharines City Councillor Mike Britton says. "He didn't want to see that everyday. It seemed like every day they were attacking a new person who was close to him."
Britton had been supporting Brown and disputes claims that Brown's run for the leadership had been more about Brown and less about what was right for the party.
"Throughout his very first press conference when he came back, the big rally in Toronto, he talked about how it's not about him, it's about the people, it's about the party. It's incredible that he's built this party, this inclusive, diverse party and he wanted to finish that job, that's what he was after."
Interim PC Leader Vic Fedeli thanked Brown for quitting the race, calling it the right decision for the party and himself.
Four candidates remain in the race: Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney, Doug Ford and Tanya Granic Allen.