Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog is stepping down from his second job — as local MLA — at month’s end. “I will be delivering my resignation to the Speaker’s office on Nov. 30,” Krog said Thursday.
Krog has been working double-duty since winning the mayor’s job in the Oct. 20 election. He pulled in 20,040 votes.
“The session finishes on the 29th, it’s the end of the month, sort of a round time,” he said. “It also gave time for me to wind down my constituency office in a reasonable way.”
Krog has been on unpaid leave from the MLA’s job since Sept. 22, when the municipal election campaign ramped up.
The lawyer and five-term MLA said he decided to run for mayor after many citizens urged him to do so. Nanaimo’s city hall was the scene of multiple battles under the previous council.
Krog and Premier John Horgan stood by Nanaimo-Ladysmith NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson when she announced her plan to run for Krog’s vacated seat. Malcolmson has not resigned as MP. Nanaimo businessman Tony Harris is planning to represent the B.C. Liberal Party in the race for Krog’s seat.
Results of the byelection are crucial to the balance of power in B.C. because the NDP’s minority government is only in power thanks to support from three Green MLAs.
Horgan has said the byelection will be held prior to the provincial budget in February.
If any constituents need assistance in the meantime, Krog said that NDP MLA Doug Routley, who represents Nanaimo-North Cowichan, or Liberal MLA Michelle Stilwell, of Parksville-Qualicum, can help.
