Coquitlam voters may not be heading to the polls for a by-election.
Yesterday, Coun. Linda Reimer, a BC Liberal candidate who won the provincial election in Port Moody-Coquitlam earlier this month, said she wants to avoid a costly municipal by-election for herself.
In a May 30 letter to council that she also emailed to The Tri-City News, Reimer said she is asking for permission to take an unpaid leave of absence from her civic duties. The leave would start June 10.
And if approved by council, Reimer said she would formally quit the position she has held for nearly two terms, on Jan. 3, 2014.
"I acknowledge that performing my council duties and MLA duties would be impossible and would be unfair to constituents who have placed their faith in me," Reimer wrote in the letter, "yet, I do wish to save the taxpayers of my community the cost of a by-election."
Council is expected to discuss Reimer's request at its June 10 meeting.
On May 14, Reimer won the seat held by BC NDP MLA Joe Trasolini with 46.39% of the vote; the former city mayor gained 44.29% while the Green Party's Billie Helps reaped 8.19%.
Coun. Selina Robinson, the BC NDP candidate who won the provincial riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville by 35 votes - a matter that will be subject to judicial recount on Tuesday, June 4 - offered no comment pending the final outcome.
