R. Bruce Banman is a Canadian politician in the province of British Columbia. He is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Abbotsford South. First elected in the 2020 British Columbia general election as a BC Liberal (now BC United), he crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party on September 13, 2023. Prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, he was the mayor of Abbotsford, British Columbia from 2011 to 2014, and an Abbotsford city councillor from 2018 to 2021.
Bruce Banman | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Abbotsford South | |
| Assumed office October 24, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Darryl Plecas |
| Mayor of Abbotsford, British Columbia | |
| In office 2011–2014 | |
| Preceded by | George Peary |
| Succeeded by | Henry Braun |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | BC Conservative (2023–present) |
| Other political affiliations | BC Liberal/BC United (2020–2023) |
| Residence(s) | Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada |
Political career
editMunicipal politics
editIn 2011, Banman was elected mayor of Abbotsford, defeating incumbent mayor George Peary.[1] He was defeated for re-election in 2014 by Henry Braun.[2]
Banman returned to municipal politics in 2018, in a bid for a seat on the Abbotsford City Council.[3] He was successful in his bid, and received the second-highest number of votes among the candidates.[4] Banman resigned as councillor on February 18, 2021, in order to fully devote his time to being MLA for Abbotsford South, to which he had been elected in October 2020. His resignation took effect on February 28.[5]
Provincial politics
editAhead of the 2020 election, Banman was selected as the BC Liberal candidate for the seat of Abbotsford South, defeating two others for the nomination.[6] He was subsequently elected in the general election, defeating Inder Johal of the NDP by over 2,000 votes.[7] He served in the shadow cabinet as critic to the Minister of Citizens' Services.
On September 13, 2023, Banman crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party, becoming the party's second MLA in the legislature.[8] Banman justified his party change as allowing him to better represent his constituents. His crossing gave the Conservatives official party status in the legislature, and he was named the caucus house leader.[9]
He was re-elected as a Conservative in the 2024 British Columbia general election.[10]
Electoral record
edit| 2020 British Columbia general election: Abbotsford South | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Bruce Banman | 9,730 | 44.69 | −7.79 | $44,289.90 | |||
| New Democratic | Inder Johal | 7,706 | 35.39 | 7.30 | $729.55 | |||
| Green | Arid Flavelle | 2,617 | 12.02 | −2.98 | $1,251.04 | |||
| Christian Heritage | Laura-Lynn Thompson | 1,720 | 7.90 | 3.67 | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes | 21,773 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 210 | 0.96 | 0.18 | |||||
| Turnout | 21,983 | 48.46 | −6.25 | |||||
| Registered voters | 45,365 | |||||||
| Source: Elections BC [11] [12] | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ Judd, Amy (2011-11-19). "Abbotsford election results 2011: elected Mayor | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Olsen, Tyler (2014-11-19). "Braun wins the west, Banman the east in mayor's race". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Olsen, Tyler (2018-09-14). "Former mayor Banman running for Abbotsford council seat". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Olsen, Tyler (2018-10-21). "UPDATED: Candidates reflect on election wins – and losses". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Lypka, Ben (2021-02-18). "Bruce Banman stepping down as Abbotsford city councillor". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Olsen, Tyler (2020-02-09). "Banman selected as BC Liberal candidate in Abbotsford South". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "Liberal Bruce Banman declared winner in Abbotsford South". Abbotsford News, October 24, 2020.
- ^ "BC United MLA Bruce Banman defects to provincial Conservatives". CTV News. The Canadian Press. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ DeRosa, Katie (2023-09-13). "Update: MLA's defection to B.C. Conservatives could spell trouble for B.C. United party". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "BC election 2024 results: Abbotsford South | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
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