By Dominic Abassi

Nanaimo coun. Yoachim won’t seek re-election

Aug 15, 2018 | 5:43 PM

NANAIMO — There will be at least one more fresh face at the Nanaimo Council table this fall.

Coun. Bill Yoachim will not run for re-election in October’s municipal election.

In a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW, the first-term councillor said he decided it would be in his best interest to be more focused on his family and his work with Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services.

“These are truly where my heart and passion lie. I’m thankful for the opportunity the City of Nanaimo has given me. It wasn’t always an easy job, but I did what I thought was best for the citizens,” he said in the statement.

Yoachim is the fifth sitting councillor to declare their intentions for the upcoming election.

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Councillors Ian Thorpe and Sheryl Armstrong said they would seek re-election, while Diane Brennan announced she will retire.

Coun. Jim Kipp is reportedly also not running for re-election, however he has not publicly confirmed the report.

The intentions of mayor Bill McKay and councillors Bill Bestwick, Jerry Hong and Gord Fuller are unknown at this time. McKay previously told NanaimoNewsNOW he would make a decision later in the summer, while Bestwick, Hong and Fuller have not responded to previous questions about their status.

Voters will have no shortage of candidates to choose from on Oct. 20.

While there are only two candidates who have declared their intention to run for mayor, at least 20 community members have said they will stand for a seat on Council.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi