Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog announces mayoral run

Longtime NDPMLA Leonard Krog has decided to runfor mayor of Nanaimo.

Krog announced his candidacyat the Coast Bastionhotel in the city on Wednesday andsaid he plans to stay on as MLA until the municipal election in the fall.

The revelation comesafter weeks of speculation onhis political future and could have big implications for the government'sfragile majority.

Provincial power razor-thin

TheNDP and Green Party currently havea combined 44 MLAs which means a B.C. Liberal party win in a Nanaimo byelection would give that partythe votes to effectively block any legislation by the provincial government.

It could also lead to anearlyelection.

"We usually don't have governments that are this tight," said University of Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford.

Ahead of the official announcement, B.C. Premier John Horganwished the MLA the best in a potential run.

"There's been a long-standing challenge in the city and Leonard believes and many, many, many people believe that he is the best person to address that,'' Horgan said during a news conference in Grand Forks, B.C.

City wants 'boring': former staffer

Krog'scandidacy also comes at a colourful time inmunicipal politics.

For the past two years,Nanaimo's city hall has been wracked by infighting including alawsuit the city filed against Mayor BillMcKay, investigations byRCMPandspecial prosecutors, as well asthe departures of over three dozen city staff.

Tom Weinreich, who retired as manager of building inspections last year, said the city just wants to be"boring."

"We don't want to be the national news," he said. "Wejust want good steady governance that we're not embarrassed about. People are ashamed right now."

The campaign period for B.C.'s local election begins onon Sept. 22. Voters head to the polls on Oct. 20.

With files from Justin McElroy and the Canadian Press

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