A Chilliwack man well-known for his role as a city councillor is making the jump to provincial politics.
Jason Lum announced his candidacy on Friday, Oct. 2 on his website and social media. He will be running as an Independent candidate the upcoming provincial election in the riding of Chilliwack-Kent.
“It’s official – I will be running as your independent candidate for Chilliwack-Kent,” he wrote late Friday.
Lum’s name is listed on the Elections BC website for the riding along with four others.
He has been a councillor with the City of Chilliwack since December of 2011 and is the chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District.
BC Green Party candidate for Chilliwack-Kent Jeff Hammersmark shared a letter on social media Saturday stating that he would cease campaigning because of Lum’s candidacy.
“If I continue to run a hard, energetic, passionate campaign, now against Mr. Lum, I believe it would only serve to help Mr. [Laurie] Throness [BC Liberal incumbent] win.”
The letter was subsequently deleted from Twitter and Facebook and Hammersmark has not yet responded to a request to comment.
This story will be updated as more info becomes available.
Here are the five candidates for the riding of Chilliwack-Kent:
Eli Gagne – Libertarian
Jeff Hammersmark – BC Green Party
Jason Lum – Independent
Kelli Paddon – BC NDP
Laurie Throness – BC Liberal Party
READ MORE: All your 2020 B.C. Election coverage in one place
READ MORE: Which riding do you live in — Chilliwack or Chilliwack-Kent?
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