B.C. Liberal MLAs Joan McIntyre, Rob Howard announce they won’t seek reelection

In a news release issued today (September 4), McIntyre said she has always planned to serve no more than two terms.

“With nomination meetings in process for the scheduled May 2013 date, I thought it is time to clarify my intentions publicly and allow for an orderly search for a new candidate by the party riding executive,” she said.

McIntyre was first elected in the constituency of West Vancouver-Garibaldi in 2005. The West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA and Howard are now among 12 sitting B.C. MLAs who have recently announced their plans to retire.

Howard, the MLA for Richmond Centre, said in a statement that his decision not to run in next May’s provincial election is based “purely on personal reasons.”

“I have been heavily involved in politics for 12 years (first elected as a city councillor in 2001), and the time has come to spend more time with my family,” he said. “The demands of political life make this difficult if not impossible.”

Just as McIntyre and Howard announced their departure, Liberal cabinet minister Rich Coleman confirmed that he does plan to run again.

“I’m strongly committed to Premier Christy Clark and the rest of the BC Liberal team as we seek a new mandate in 2013,” Coleman said in a statement.

Four high-profile Liberal MLAs announced their departure last week. Former finance minister Kevin Falcon, Education Minister George Abbott, Education and Family Development Minister Mary McNeil, and Premier Christy Clark’s parliamentary secretary John Les all said they will not seek reelection.

The list of departing MLAs also includes Murray Coell, Harry Bloy, Bill Barisoff, Kevin Kreuger, Kash Heed, and Dave Hayer.

Former B.C. Liberal caucus members Barry Penner and Iain Black resigned from their positions last year, while MLA John van Dongen left the B.C. Liberal Party in March to join the B.C. Conservatives.