Todd Stone won't seek leadership of B.C. Liberal party
A high-profile cabinet minister from the Christy Clark era is not going to put in a bid to lead his party into the next election.
Today on Facebook, Kamloops–South Thompson MLA Todd Stone announced that he will not put his name forward to replace Andrew Wilkinson, who stepped down after losing the 2020 B.C. election.
Wilkinson's post is being filled on an interim basis by former deputy premier Shirley Bond.
In 2018, Stone came fourth in his party's leadership contest, dropping out after the third ballot.
"Following the resignation of our former leader, I have been carefully considering whether this was the right time for me to once again put my name forward for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party.," Stone wrote on Facebook. "I focused on building out a core team and engaged with hundreds of British Columbians.
"A talented, growing campaign team, a strong fundraising group, and supporters in every corner of the province were at the ready to formally launch a campaign," he continued. "However, after spending the holidays with my family carefully weighing the decision, I have decided that I will not be a candidate to be the next leader of the BC Liberal Party at this time."
He added that the most important decisions in life are made with the heart.
"I am forever grateful for the support Chantelle and our three daughters have provided me throughout my political career," Stone wrote. "But it was driven home to me recently that my daughters don’t know a time when their dad wasn’t in public office.
"While skiing with all three of my daughters over the recent holidays, I was struck by the reality that within the next few years, two of them may be off at university and that this period of our lives with all of us together at home is nearer the end than the beginning. I realized at that moment—in my heart—that the right decision for me and my family is to not enter this leadership race."
Stone is a former minister of transportation and infrastructure and former deputy government house leader. He was also the minister responsible for ICBC as it developed serious financial problems. That led to the NDP government introducing a form of no-fault insurance and other substantial reforms to stem the losses.
Stone is currently the opposition critic for municipal affairs, housing, and TransLink.
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