Imagine applying for a job then skipping the job interviews.

One after the other.

Every last one.

That's just what Burnaby-New Westminster Conservative candidate Sam Rakhra has done, according to Dave Pasin, campaign manager for Liberal Gerry Lenoski in the riding.

That's a total of seven all-candidates meetings Rakhra has missed.

"Apparently, he always had something else to do," Pasin said.

"People can expect an empty chair is what you get from this guy."

Lenoski called for Rakhra to withdraw from the campaign at the all-candidates meeting held at Second Street elementary Thursday night.

Rakhra was not available for an interview before the NewsLeader's press time Friday. However, his campaign manager, Robin Dhir, said they didn't know about "one or two" of the events and another "one or two" were the subject of scheduling conflicts.

For instance, the SFU Student Society's event was held Wednesday when Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in town and all the local Conservative candidates were expected to be in downtown Vancouver, Dhir said.

Meanwhile, over in Burnaby-Douglas, Conservative Ronald Leung has made it to TV and radio forums, but not most local community meetings.

The former Chinese radio host has appeared on two TV debates, two radio ones, one at seniors housing complex Seton Villa and one at Crystal Mall, where he was one of two candidates representing the Conservatives in the region.

Leung has been absent at debates organized by the SFU Student Society, the Al-Salaam Mosque, Moscrop secondary and the Halston Hills housing co-op.

"I don't know who could get a job anywhere without showing up for the interviews that were required of him," said incumbent New Democrat Bill Siksay, who suggested Leung's absences might be a result of Conservative candidates being kept on a very short leash by the central campaign.

Siksay noted that in his time as MP he has held regular accountability sessions and public meetings and distributed newsletters.

"If a candidate can't even bring themselves to show up for all those opportunities [to meet constituents] during an election campaign what are they going to do once they're elected?"

He said it was disappointing Leung didn't show up at the student forums, which he called among the best tests in a campaign because of the level of preparation among students.

"It's a real shame at a time when folks are really trying to encourage youth to be involved, that he chose not to go to Moscrop and SFU."

Leung's campaign manager Scott Wenger said the Moscrop event was held on a weekday morning. It was decided the candidate's time would be best spent doorknocking to have direct contact with voters.

"I kind of wish we'd gone now [to Moscrop]," Wenger said.

The other events the campaign either didn't know about or there were mitigating circumstances, he added.

None of the absences were directed by the central campaign, he noted.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com