Mayor Ken Popove is pictured with his wife Gail in October 2022 on the night he was overwhelmingly elected to a second term as mayor. Popove announced today (Apr. 30) that he will not seek a third term as mayor. (Image Credit: Submitted.)

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Municipal election in 2026

Chilliwack Mayor Popove announces he will not seek a 3rd term, endorses councillor to take his seat

Apr 30, 2026 | 9:04 AM

CHILLIWACK – Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove announced Thursday morning on 89.5 JR Country that he will not seek a third term as mayor, and will instead support a fellow councillor to take his seat later this year.

Popove, who was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term as mayor in 2022 with over 70 per cent of the vote, told 89.5 JR Morning host Glen Slingerland that he will endorse Councillor Jason Lum in this fall’s municipal election as Chilliwack’s next mayor.

“Ya know, I want to go out on my own terms,” Popove said. “I’ve had 15 years at the council table. I just think it’s time for me to get on my white horse and ride into the sunset. I’ve been involved for a long time. I am going to endorse Jason Lum to take over in my spot, and endorse and support the couple to 3 councillors that will continue to run to keep the continuity there.”

Chilliwack Councillor Jason Lum is pictured during a council meeting in 2024. Mayor Popove has endorsed Jason Lum to be Chilliwack’s next mayor. (Image Credit: City of Chilliwack.)

He said the City of Chilliwack endured a slew of challenges in his first term as mayor from 2018 to 2022, including a pandemic and flooding.

Opinion

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Celebrating Tourism Week

27m ago

Police investigation

1 arrested, 1 hospitalized after incident involving weapon Wednesday night in Chilliwack

35m ago

Municipal election in 2026

Chilliwack Mayor Popove announces he will not seek a 3rd term, endorses councillor to take his seat

1h ago

“First term, we went through COVID, floods, the heat dome, and murder hornets,” said Popove, who was first elected in 2011 to Chilliwack City Council. “I don’t think any other council has gone through that trifecta of issues that shut us down. I remember COVID, I was in chambers, it was just me. Everybody else was on Zoom. That was stressful. But we got through it and we got on the other side of it.”

Popove says he’s been fortunate to serve with a great team of fellow councillors and administrative staff at City Hall.

“I’ve been really lucky, Glen, with a great team to work with,” he said. “We agree to disagree and then we go for a beer. That’s the way it should be. You leave your ego at the door. You got hired to do a job. Do your job. Staff are great. My admin assistant, Zoya, looks after me., and the rest of the team at City Hall. We run a lean machine. We all work for the betterment of our little city. It’s been fun. Am I gonna miss it? Absolutely, I’m gonna miss it. I’ve worked with some great teams. Former Mayor Sharon Gaetz, she gave me a lot of wisdom, and other councillors that we work well with.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Join Our Daily Email

Chilliwack Mayor Popove announces he will not seek a 3rd term, endorses councillor to take his seat

More Local News