Friday, January 27, 2012

Resign from local elected office and receive fine or jail time...?

As a result of the recent snap resignation of former Lillioet Mayor Ted Anchor and former Lillioet Councillor Kevin Taylor - Coquitlam Council is now advocating for a fine/jail to be levied at those who run and win for local elected office and then resign during their term of office

In fact - Coquitlam City Councillor Brent Asmundson has been quoted in the Coquitlam NOW as suggesting a fine of $10,000+ while his colleague, Councillor Lou Sekora (former Coquitlam Mayor) went further and said "resign before your term is up without reason & maybe you should be thrown in jail"

Coquitlam Council has referred this matter to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and the Union of BC Municipalities for further discussion

See the full article in the Bridge River - Lillioet News here

This will be, in my opinion, a very heated discussion among local elected officials (municipal councils and regional districts) - if it lands for debate at the 2012 UBCM AGM to held later this year in Victoria, BC on Sept 24th - 28th.

I can see a fine if you resign within the first 90 days of elected office. After that - I think the bar should be high in order to fine or jailing an individual for resigning from elected office

SBF

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