Bruce Banman has announced that he has officially stepped down from his position as councillor with the city of Abbotsford.
The former Abbotsford mayor said the decision, revealed in a press release on Feb. 18, will allow him to focus solely on being the MLA for Abbotsford South.
Banman earned that title back in October. He is also the official opposition critic for citizens’ services.
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“I want to thank the people of Abbotsford for placing their trust and support in me during my time as mayor, as a city councillor, and now as the MLA for Abbotsford South,” he stated in a press release. “Serving the city of Abbotsford has been and continues to be a true honour, but after thoughtful deliberation, I have decided to step down from my position as a councillor to focus solely on being the MLA for Abbotsford South.”
He said he wanted to complete his term as councillor, which he earned back in 2018, but that the NDP’s election call forced his hand.
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“When I agreed to put my name forward as a BC Liberal candidate to run provincially, it was under the assumption the NDP would honour their agreement of the fixed election date set for October 2021, which would have prevented the need for a byelection,” added Banman. “I understand that my resignation will now result in a byelection for the city, but let it be clear — ultimately, this byelection lies at the feet of John Horgan.”
The Community Charter requires local governments to hold a by-election if a councillor resigns their position before Jan. 1 in the year of a general local election, which for British Columbia is Jan. 1, 2022.
Banman’s final day on city council will be on Feb. 28.
Mayor Henry Braun thanked Banman for his contributions in a press release on Feb. 18.
“Councillor Banman was an active member of Abbotsford City Council, and on behalf of the city of Abbotsford, I would like to thank him for his service to the community,” he stated. “We look forward to continuing to work with him in his role as MLA for Abbotsford South.”
The city will be providing by-election information in the coming weeks, including information on COVID protocols and how they intersect with the voting process. Members of the public wishing to run for office will be able to find candidate information on the city’s website: abbotsford.ca.
