Long-time Coun. Harold Steves will not be seeking re-election to Richmond council, according to a tweet he sent out on Saturday.
In a discussion about mega mansions in the Agricultural Land Reserve, Steves explained “the realtor farmers are waiting like vultures for the next election when I retire, leaving a vacancy, and voters forget to be vigilant.”
Steves was first elected to council in 1969, but then served as an NDP MLA in the Dave Barrett government between 1972-75. During this time, he helped establish the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), which is overseen by a land commission and regulates activities on any ALR land.
He was re-elected to Richmond council in 1977.
Steves, whose family was one of the founding families of Richmond, has been a vocal advocate of farming and local food security. He and his wife run an 11-acre cattle farm in Steveston.
Steves is 83 years old.
The next municipal election is in 2022.
