Following months of being absent from council meetings, Telkwa Mayor Brad Layton has stepped down.

In a press release this afternoon (Jan. 13), the Village of Telkwa only cited 鈥渉ealth issues.鈥�

Layton was first elected as a councillor in 2011 and served in that capacity until he was elected as Mayor in 2019. He remained in that position until January of 2022.

In 2015, he threw his hat into federal politics as the Liberal candidate for Skeena-Bulkley Valley after volunteering in two elections for the BC Liberals and serving a term as the president of the BC Liberal riding association in the Bulkley Valley.

In that election Layton came in third with 18.7 per cent of the vote behind the NDP鈥檚 Nathan Cullen (51 per cent) and Conservative Tyler Nesbitt (24.8) per cent.

He also unsuccessfully ran for Smithers council in 2008.

鈥淰illage of Telkwa Council and staff thank Brad for service to the community of Telkwa for more than a decade, and wishes him all the best in the future,鈥� the release stated.

With a general municipal election scheduled for October of this year, Telkwa CAO Debbie Joujan said there will not be a byelection to replace Layton noting there is no 鈥渓egislative requirement under these circumstances鈥� to do so.

Coun. Leroy Dekens is currently serving as acting mayor.

鈥淎 final decision has not been made at this point regarding the Acting Mayor, Deputy Mayor roles, and committee appointments for the rest of this term,鈥� Joujan said via email.

editor@interior-news.com
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