The trustee who topped the polls in the 2018 New Westminster school board election won't be running again.
Anita Ansari announced April 18 that she won't be running in the Oct. 15, 2022 municipal election.
Ansari, who was endorsed by the New Westminster and District Labour Council and ran as part of Team Cote, was the highest vote-getter in the school board race in 2018. She has also served as chair of the SD40 board.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity, trust and support given to me by the folks of New Westminster," she said in a press release. "Our district has done amazing work this term, like promoting menstrual equity, dreaming up a five-year vision with the community, and expanding the schools' pilot nutritional program across the district, all of which I believe were due to the diversity of experience of current board members combined with the tireless efforts of the district staff."
Ansari said she wanted to end the board's "historical" term on a high note.
She said the decision arose from her experiences navigating the past two pandemic years.
"It hasn't been easy juggling working parent obligations during these strained times," she said. "I've realized I need to have fewer balls up in the air at this stage in my life. We go through seasons where our calling shifts, requiring us to pivot to where we are most useful, so this came about as a natural transition for me."
Ansari will continue in her position as trustee until the new board is elected in the fall.
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