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

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Councillor Lum issued a statement mid-morning Thursday thanking Popove for his years of service to Chilliwack.

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“First off, I want to congratulate Mayor Ken Popove on an incredible run in public service and thank him for everything he’s given to the City of Chilliwack over the last 15 years at the council table,” Lum told Fraser Valley Today in a text message. “Ken has been part of a transformational period in Chilliwack’s history. Our city has grown tremendously during his time in office, and through that growth he has always brought a strong sense of optimism about Chilliwack and its future. Public service is not easy work. It takes time away from family, it comes with criticism, pressure, and long hours, and people often don’t see the personal sacrifices behind the scenes. Ken has dedicated a significant part of his life to this community, and I think that deserves recognition and respect.”

Councillor Lum says he appreciates Mayor Popove’s endorsement ahead of this fall’s election.

“I deeply value Ken’s endorsement and trust in my ability to lead as I prepare to put my name forward to be the next Mayor of the City of Chilliwack,” Lum said. “It means a great deal coming from someone who has spent so many years serving this city. At the end of the day, I know full well that positions around the council table aren’t something that can simply be given away or passed from one person to another. They have to be earned. Earning the trust of the community matters, and ultimately the people of Chilliwack will decide who they want to lead the city into the future. I look forward to sharing more about my own future, my vision for Chilliwack, and my continued desire to serve the community that has given so much to me and my family.”

For his part, Mayor Popove 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, and wound up stronger once the city got through it.

“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.”