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Bennett announces retirement On eve of BC Cabinet retreat, Premier pays tribute to four-term MLA at Royal Alex event
BARRY COULTER AND TREVOR CRAWLEY
The end of a political era in British Columbia and the East Kootenay was announced Tuesday, June 21, with MLA Bill Bennett telling an audience of almost 300 he would not be running in the next provincial election. Bennett, along with the B.C. government ministers and Premier Christy Clark, are in Cranbrook for a cabinet retreat this week. Bennett, 66, used the occasion to make his pending retirement public and to rally the Liberal faithful at a gala event at the Royal Alexandra Hall. With his wife Beth, two sons, daughter-inlaw and grandchild in attendance, Bennett said it was time to focus on his family after 16 years and four electoral terms in provincial politics. “My wife has put up with this for 16 years,” Bennett told the Townsman after his address. “My son Daniel was in Grade 10 when I first got elected—he’s 31 now. How many fishing trips did I miss? My oldest son is back in the area now from South America. I’ve got a granddaughter. “It’s just more important for me to do
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Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett and B.C. Premier Christy Clark at the Royal Alexandra Hall in Cranbrook, Tuesday, June 21. that, for myself and for my family, than it is to be an MLA and a minister.” Bennett won his first
election in 2001, defeating NDP incumbent Erda Walsh. “Anyone could have
story — we almost lost. In 2009 we came back stronger. In 2013 we had the third largest margin
won in 2001,” Bennett said. “I was just fortunate to be the candidate. “2005 was a different
of victory in British Columbia.” Bennett then urged the room of B.C. Liberal
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BARRY COULTER PHOTO
supporters to keep that momentum going.
See BENNETT, Page 3