Louis Robichaud drops out of federal election race

Louis Robichaudis no longer running inAcadie-Bathurst in the upcoming federal election.

The Conservative Party confirmed Tuesday afternoon thatRobichaudhas withdrawn from the Oct. 19race, citing "personal reasons."

GildardChiasson, chairmanoftheConservativePartyintheAcadie-Bathurst riding, said he was "surprised," and "disappointed."

"It'shis decision," said Chiasson.

"Iwas expectingLouis Robichaud would be the candidate right to the end," he said.

We still have time to do our work if someone runs.- GildardChiasson, Conservative Party

"Like everyone else, I would have liked to have had a candidate before now. We were expecting it to be him.But we still have time to do our work if someone runs."

Candidates have until Sept. 28 to declare, which leaves enough time to campaign, said Chiasson.

Robichaud could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.

He was chosento represent the ridinglast March.He was the only one to submit all of the required documents, officials had said at the time.

The other candidates in the riding are Jason Godinfor the NDP,Serge Cormier for the Liberals, and Dominique Breau for the Green Party.

NDP MP YvonGodin, who represented the Acadie-Bathurst riding, for about 18 years, announced in January that he would not re-offer.

Robichaud was the Conservative candidate for the riding in the 2011 federal election, placing second with 16.2 per cent of the vote.