Abbotsford councillor Simon Gibson has announced he will seek re-election this fall.
Gibson, who most recently joined council in 2022, made the announcement on Monday (July 27).
“I was leaning toward leaving council, but have been encouraged by so many residents to remain and contribute to the leadership of our city,” he said.
Gibson completed his first term in the 1980s and has served three decades on council as well as a number of terms on the Fraser Valley Regional District.
In 2013, he was elected as a Liberal MLA, serving two terms before returning to local government in 2022.
Gibson was a deputy speaker and member of the Treasury Board, finance committee and public accounts. He was also parliamentary secretary to the education minister.
“It was a privilege to serve in provincial government, and I was successful in securing $10 million in funding for Matsqui Prairie draining projects,” he said. “As a councillor, I have been able to use my connections and experience gained as an MLA to benefit the people of Abbotsford. I continue to have an abiding interest in the role of agriculture in our community and acknowledge its significant impact on our current and future economic vitality.”
Gibson said he is generally regarded as a fiscal conservative on council and aligns himself to a more cautious approach to budgeting and expenditures.
“Local government represents about 12 per cent of the overall tax bill, and the balance, 88 per cent, is made up of myriad taxes of the federal and provincial governments,” he said.
“The City of Abbotsford needs to be cautious and avoid assuming services that would be best funded by senior levels of government.”
Gibson said he will continue to run as an independent candidate.
“I know municipal parties are common in cities in Metro such as Vancouver and Surrey, but I prefer independence, which allows me to represent constituents without checking with other councillors or party officials,” he said.
Gibson previously taught business and professional communications at University of the Fraser Valley and Trinity Western University.
He was formerly marketing manager for a precursor credit union to Coast Capital and a partner in an Abbotsford-based manufacturing firm.
Gibson is a graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa, where he earned an honours degree in journalism; he also completed a graduate degree in education at Simon Fraser University.
He is married to Joy, a retired Abbotsford elementary school teacher, and they have two daughters and three grandsons.
Gibson is a regular morning runner and enjoys riding his bike throughout the community in the summer months. His hobbies include reading, writing and gourmet cooking.
The municipal election is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17.