Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac will resign his seat from Port Moody council. That means Port Moody residents will be going to the polls as early as later this summer to elect his replacement.
Glumac announced his intention to leave council at the end of Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
“It’s in the best interests of this community to have somebody in this seat,” said Glumac, who will formally vacate his seat before the next council meeting June 27.
Glumac was in the midst of his second term on council, but took a leave when he ran for the BC NDP in the May 9 provincial election. He upset the riding’s BC Liberal incumbent Linda Reimer by winning 47 per cent of the votes cast to Reimer’s 41 per cent. Green candidate Don Barthel was a distant third with only 12 per cent of the votes.
Glumac told council he recognizes his departure comes at a critical time as the city copes with new growth brought by development while still trying to maintain the qualities that attract new residents.
“There are so many incredibly important decisions to be made in the coming years,” he said. “When such important decisions are being made, seven voices are better than six, more opinions will be represented.”
Glumac said his time on council will serve him well in Victoria, where he hopes to be part of the government in a few weeks.
"It's invaluable, having that understanding of what municipal governments can do," said Glumac. "I've seen the advocacy that happens at the municipal level but I haven't necessarily seen it translated to the provincial level."
Glumac said he reached his decision after "a lot of conversations with residents and feeback from people.
"It was important for me to get that feedback."
According to the Local Government Act, the city must appoint a chief election officer “as soon as practicable” when a council vacancy occurs before January 1 of an election year. That officer then sets a general voting day for a Saturday no later than 80 days after their appointment.
A spokesperson for the city of Port Moody estimated the cost of a by-election to be around $40,000, although that cost can vary depending on the number and locations of voting opportunities.
