Chilliwack’s new mayor is team-building two-term councillor Ken Popove.
“I’m overwhelmed and I’m humbled by the support from the citizens of Chilliwack,” said Popove in the wake of a decisive victory Saturday night.
Popove earned 8,432 votes to become mayor-elect.
He took the lead early in the night, and maintained that edge to the end. Popove said he was thrilled by the huge turnout this year which saw more than 24,000 people showing up to vote.
“Believe in me. I’m going to do this. I’m going to make Chilliwack as good as it can be,” said Popove after the final results came in. “And thanks everybody!”
Running on a campaign of getting things done in collaboration, during one of the most engaged and contentious elections in years, Popove pledged to keep working hard, as he gets ready to take over from mayor Sharon Gaetz.
READ MORE: Popove announced run in May
Popove has been on council since 2011, was re-elected in 2014.
He has been front and centre with the housing crisis in Chilliwack, as the chair of a housing task force, and the Chilliwack Healthier Community.
“We’re at a crossroads in Chilliwack,” Popove said when he launched the campaign in May as first out of the gate in Chilliwack for the mayor’s chair. “We are facing big city problems in public safety, in homelessness, in affordability, and in the tragedy of the opioid crisis.”
READ MORE: All your Chilliwack election coverage in one place
He vowed to work closer with area First Nations, as well as provincial and federal governments.
Maintaining “great community services, low taxes, and an unbeatable quality of life” was a big part of his platform during the election campaign.
Popove is owner of Ken’s Tire & Wheel which he operates in downtown Chilliwack on Alexander Avenue.
He spent years on the DT Chilliwack Business improvement Association (BIA), six of which as president. He’s been a huge supporter of community events, and was involved in the creation of Party in the Park, the Village Classic Car Show, Christmas Parade, and the now defunct Christmas Village.
@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
