Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove has publicly announced his intention to run for re-election in 2022.
At the six-month mark before the Oct. 15 municipal election, The Chilliwack Progress formally asked each member of city council, to indicate if they had made a decision yet on running.
So far Popove is the only member of council to clearly answer in the affirmative, after all members were sent the question by email on April 14.
Four-term councillor Sue Knott will not be allowing her name to stand for re-election come October.
One of her reasons was the “vicious attacks” council was subjected to from social media commenters.
“It gets to you after a while,” Knott said. And although her health is “good” now after battling breast cancer, she said it made her realize she needed to take time out for family and friends.
“My entire working life, since 1979, I’ve always worked two jobs,” Knott said.
So although she “absolutely loved” the job of councillor, and felt quite torn, she said had to thank all her supporters after deciding not to run.
Councillors Chris Kloot, Jason Lum, Bud Mercer, Jeff Shields, and Harv Westeringh said they are still undecided at this point.
“Lots of incredible work has been done this past term with a hard working, dedicated team, and there is still lots more to do,” Kloot replied. “I will make my decision in the coming months.”
Westeringh is leaning toward running for re-election.
“At this point, I think that I will be running again,” Westeringh wrote. “There are still unfinished challenges that I would like to get done at city hall, but I need to look at my work schedule and confirm some things with my family first.”
He said with the election still six months away, that’s a “long time” and he’s given himself until the end of July to finalize his decision.
Lum stated he had “lots of new responsibilities to consider raising a toddler.”
Shields said he still had to discuss running again with “family and employers,” while Mercer stated that he was not 100 per cent sure but would decide “soon.”
Qualifications for office, according to City of Chilliwack website:
A person is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as a member of local government if they meet the following criteria:
• A Canadian citizen;
• 18 years of age or older or will be on General Voting Day,
Nomination packages will be available for download from City of Chilliwack as of Tuesday, August 30, 2022, from 9 a.m. to Friday, September 9, 2022, at 4 p.m. The chief election officer can be reached at 793-2924.
RELATED: New council was sworn in Nov. 6, 2018
RELATED: Chilliwack had 2nd lowest voter turnout in B.C. in 2011
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