‘Yes’ to new coal terminal page 8
Colourful fun at the kids’ festival page 16
Tuesday
See today’s specials on page 24!
Mary 28, 2013
KIN’S
Serving Surrey and North Delta
KET FARM MAR
www.surreyleader.com
Byelection in the cards for Surrey Premier Christy Clark asks Marvin Hunt to take unpaid leave, but he doesn’t have support of council by Kevin Diakiw IT LOOKS like Surrey may be heading for a byelection to fill
the seat of Coun. Marvin Hunt, who just became the Liberal MLA-elect for Surrey Panorama. Hunt had planned to serve as MLA while remaining on Surrey council until Jan. 1, 2014 to prevent a pricey byelection, which could cost between $600,000 and $800,000, according to city staff. B.C. Premier Christy Clark is urging him to take an unpaid leave of absence. However, Hunt doesn’t have support of his colleagues to make that move. After 23 years on city council, Hunt was elected May 14 as the Liberal MLA for Surrey-Panorama. He told The Leader before the election he planned to do both jobs, while donating his council pay to charity. At a Liberal caucus meeting Friday, the premier urged any councillors elected as MLAs to take an unpaid leave of absence from their civic jobs in order to avoid byelections. Hunt told The Leader Friday he had dismissed the notion of doing both jobs and was pursuing the leave, which requires the ascent of council. Marvin Hunt However, as of Friday, it appeared he wouldn’t have the votes for it to pass. A straw poll conducted by The Leader indicates that the majority of council is against him taking a leave of absence. Couns. Barinder Rasode, Tom Gill, Linda Hepner, Judy Villeneuve and Barbara Steele said they don’t favour his taking an unpaid leave. “I think if he’s not going to be attending meetings, he should reconsider his position,” Villeneuve said. Steele said Hunt will be sorely missed on council, but prefers a byelection to leaving his seat vacant for a protracted period. Hepner said it’s important to fill Hunt’s seat as soon as possible. See BYELECTION / Page 3
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
PARTY IN THE PARK
Marcus Mumford sings during a performance by Grammy-winning English folk-rockers Mumford & Sons during a concert in front of 25,000 fans in Surrey’s Holland Park on May 24. Currently touring North America, the band chose Surrey as its only stop in B.C. Friday’s concert was the largest ticketed show in the city since Lollapalooza in 1994. For more photos, see page 9.
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