Former School Board Chair Patti Bacchus to sit out Vancouver byelections

A controversial figure in Vancouver politics has decided she won’t be running in either of the city’s byelections slated for October.

In her column in the Vancouver Observer, long-time Vancouver School Board Chair and Trustee Patti Bacchus says she’s taking a break from politics and won’t seek a seat on the Vancouver City Council or Vancouver School Board (VSB).

Vancouverites will go to the polls in October for a byelection to fill a seat on City Council left vacant by Geoff Meggs’ move to be Premier John Horgan’s Chief of Staff.

They will also elect school trustees to replace the board that was fired by the previous BC Liberal government.

“I’ve decided that makes it a good time to step aside and make room for others at the board table, so you won’t see my name on the byelection ballot for school board. I gave some consideration to trying a run for city council, but I’m enjoying my break from elected office too much right now and the time it frees up for other projects,” Bacchus wrote.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I've decided that makes it a good time to step aside and make room for others at the board table, so you won't see my name on the byelection ballot for school board. I gave some consideration to trying a run for city council, but I'm enjoying my break from elected office too much right now and the time it frees up for other projects," Bacchus wrote.

However, while Bacchus won’t be seeking an active role in municipal politics, it hasn’t stopped her from remaining a vocal critic.

A day before announcing her decision not to run, Bacchus slammed Education Minister Rob Fleming’s decision to keep Liberal-appointed VSB Trustee on in an advisory role calling her a “controversial figure” who has created “divisions.”

Bacchus is leaving the door open for a return to politics in 2018.