Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog, shown at a park opening in north Nanaimo on Saturday, June 9. Krog said this morning he’s “very seriously” considering running for mayor. KARL YU/The News Bulletin

Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog said this morning he’s “very seriously” considering running for mayor.

The provincial NDP caucus chairman is slated to make an announcement on Wednesday, June 13 at the Coast Bastion Hotel, according to invitations circulating on social media.

“I have had a lot of people over the last couple of years whose opinion I value, people who I respect, leaders in our community, [they] have been asking me to run for mayor,” Krog said. “So certainly that’s a huge motivating factor for any politician.”

The provincial NDP government, supported by the B.C. Green Party, holds only a two-seat edge over the opposition B.C. Liberals, but Krog suggested the close split in the legislature wouldn’t be a major consideration in his decision.

“I won this constituency by 3,800 votes last time,” he said. “I don’t think the NDP is likely to lose Nanaimo. It’s lost Nanaimo twice in, I think, 55 years.”

Krog has represented the Nanaimo riding since 2005. Between 1991-96, he was MLA for Parksville-Qualicum.

The local government election is in October. So far, two candidates have announced their intention to run for mayor: Don Hubbard and Norm Smith.

For news about the upcoming local government election, bookmark this link.

More to come.

“I don’t think the NDP is likely to lose Nanaimo. It’s lost Nanaimo twice in, I think, 55 years.” This. Quote. https://t.co/P9xpQFiEUZ — Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani) June 10, 2018

If @LeonardKrogMla does run for #Nanaimo mayor, and a party other than the NDP wins byelection, balance of power will be even slimmer… #bcpoli https://t.co/f5j4SgQRRK — Black Press BC (@BlackPressMedia) June 10, 2018



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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Election 2018