Former MLA Bob D’Eith joins Maple Ridge mayor’s election slate

Former Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Bob D’Eith has joined incumbent Mayor Dan Ruimy’s A Better Maple Ridge slate for the Oct. 17 municipal election.

The slate launched its campaign Aug. 16 at the Maple Ridge Seniors Centre, where more than 100 supporters, volunteers and community members gathered. D’Eith, elected provincially in 2017 and 2020 with the B.C. NDP, joins incumbent Coun. Korleen Carreras and newcomers Dr. Bhupinder Singh Johar and Leanne Koehn.

Three incumbent councillors who were part of the slate — Onyeka Dozie, Sunny Schiller and Jenny Tam — will not seek re-election after one term.

The group says its priorities include housing, transportation and affordability. It points to work on the Abernethy Way-240th Street corridor, $393 million in recreation projects and efforts with TransLink and the province to improve transportation links, including a proposed bus rapid transit route between Haney Place and the future Langley SkyTrain.

Ruimy said collaboration is essential to moving city business forward, while D’Eith said long-term planning requires working across political and government lines.