Marvin Hunt is stepping down as city councillor to spend more time focusing on his job as MLA for Surrey-Panorama.
Hunt, elected as B.C. Liberal in the last provincial election, had planned on staying on as councillor for the love of the job.
He was not being paid for that position.
On Monday, he announced tearfully that he was resigning as city councillor.
“I was fine until I was actually saying it, and then you get a little emotional, because it has been just over 23 years,” Hunt said Tuesday. “It’s been a phenomenal experience, it’s been awesome to serve the citizens of Surrey on Surrey council.”
The mayor and council jokingly said they would not accept his resignation, saying his would be large shoes to fill.
Hunt said that his commitment to his provincial role would keep him away from council until June.
Under the Municipal Act, his council seat would become vacant if he missed four consecutive council meetings, if that absence was not due to sickness.
So, rather than be pushed, he jumped.
The 23-year veteran of city council said he’ll miss representing Surrey in its entirety, but noted he will still be here looking out for the people of Panorama Ridge.
He leaves knowing there are challenges that remain ahead for this city.
“The big challenges are of course all big city challenges that now come with the turf,” Hunt said. “That is the constant challenge of crime, the constant challenges of transportation… those are just two massive challenges that are going to constantly be there.”
Neither one has a fast fix, he says.
“You want to be focusing on the long term, the next generation, so we can break the cycles that some generations get themselves into,” he said.
Because he is stepping down in the same calendar year as a civic election (this November), a byelection will not be necessary.
