It is an end of an era in Delta politics.
After almost five decades in civic office, Lois Jackson has announced she will not be seeking re-election in the Oct. 15 municipal election.
In 1972, she became the first female alderman in Delta. In the years that followed, she was part of a tremendous history and growth in the community and was influential in many of the decisions that helped shaped our community.
Jackson was Delta’s mayor from 1999 to 2018 and before those years as the top municipal politician in Delta, she served as councillor. She was on Delta council in some capacity since 1972 with the exception of only one term.
It has been a remarkable run in local politics.
This past term, where she was elected to council in 2018 as part of Mayor George Harvie’s Achieving for Delta team, has been a tough one for Jackson.
She recently returned from a six-month approved leave of absence for undisclosed reasons. Throughout the past four years she has often been at odds with Harvie and other councillors over various issues and admitted this week in an interview with the Optimist that she is “disappointed in how things turned out.”
But that’s politics. Sometimes you agree. Sometimes you disagree and sometimes you just simply get to a place where you can’t get along and maybe it is time to take a bow and exit stage left.
That appears to be the case as Jackson brings an end to her political career.
While I have not always agreed with Jackson and some of her opinions and thoughts at the council table, I have always respected her for her commitment to this community and her commitment to try and make this community better.
That fact cannot be challenged by anyone.
Thank you Lois for your service and dedication. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
