Vancouver-based BC United party member, Michael Lee, stated Thursday he won’t be running for re-election in October.
Lee, who has served as the MLA for Vancouver-Langara since 2017, announced on social media that he has decided not to seek a third term.
“After the legislative session ended in May, I finally found some time to reflect on my time of service and how I can continue to contribute with passion and purpose,” said Lee, adding that he has accepted an opportunity with an employer in the private sector.
In November last year, Lee was “unveiled” as one of three candidates that BC United said would run again.
A post on the party’s website at the time said, “[Lee] expressed his commitment, saying, ‘I’m honoured to seek re-election again with BC United, a party focused on the growth and shared prosperity of our province.’”
Since then, Lee says he and BC United Leader Kevin Falcon have worked together to find a replacement.
“To be clear, this has been a very difficult decision for me. But it has been made a little less so with how Kevin [Falcon] has worked with me to bring forward a strong successor candidate. Jaime Stein is an energetic and very capable community leader who will run to be the next Vancouver-Langara MLA.”
Shortly after Lee’s post, Stein took to social media with a photo of himself, Lee, and Falcon standing together with thumbs up.
“I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity,” Stein captioned the photo. “I’m grateful to [Lee] for his endorsement and look forward to building upon his legacy.”
Stein holds an MBA and has a reported career history in the tech sector.