Chilliwack councillor makes endorsement in upcoming mayoral race

CHILLIWACK – Just days after Mayor Ken Popove publicly backed Jason Lum to be Chilliwack’s next mayor, a city councillor has also announced his support of Lum ahead of this fall’s municipal election.

In a social media post over the weekend, Councillor Bud Mercer says he’s known Lum for 24 years and believes he has the aptitude, skill set and best intentions to lead Chilliwack.

“I don’t know any person who I believe is better suited to be our next Mayor for the City of Chilliwack,” said Mercer, a retired police officer who held multiple executive roles with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “I watched Jason from a very young man with long hair, hat on backwards carrying a skateboard when he worked for me at the RCMP Detachment fixing our computers. I have watched him grow into a gentleman, a husband and a Father. Over the past 8 years I have watched Jason as a city councillor and the Chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District. There hasn’t been a decision Jason has made or supported that wasn’t for the betterment of our great city.”

Mercer says Lum has what he calls the “unique ability to think and function two steps ahead of everyone else at the table.”

“Regardless of my decision to run or not, I will be the first in line to vote for Jason Lum to lead our great city into the future!!” Mercer said.

Mercer says he has not decided on whether he will seek a third term as councillor in the municipal election set for Saturday, October 17, 2026.

“I have been asked no less than 30 times in the past week if I will be running for re-election for city councillor this coming October,” Mercer said. “The simple answer is: I’m not sure yet! This is my eighth year. It’s been an absolute pleasure and a humbling honour! That said, I have spent 40 years in the public safety realm and another 8 years as a city council. Shelly and I will decide in the coming months what’s best for us.”

Mayor Popove announced last Thursday, April 30 on 89.5 JR Country that he would not seek a third term as mayor. He has unreservedly endorsed Lum.