After 10 years of service to the District of Squamish, Coun. Paul Lalli announced his name won't be on the ballot in the November municipal election.
In an emotional statement to council on Tuesday (Sept. 20), Lalli told district staff and councillors he will not run for re-election in the Nov. 19 election.
"It was a privilege to serve my great community," Lalli said. "I want to thank my family, they have been a big supporter."
The self-proclaimed "political junky" first ran for council in the 1996 by-election. He won, becoming Squamish's youngest politician at age 24. At the time, Lalli was also the municipality's first councillor of Asian background.
Lalli wore the title for seven consecutive years until 2002, when he ran and lost against Ian Sutherland for mayor. In 2006, Lalli moved to a bigger arena. He unsuccessfully campaigned for the Conservative nomination in the Surrey riding of Fleetwood-Port Kells. Lalli was back in the Squamish municipal race in 2008, winning his current seat.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale told council she remembers the first time Lalli came in to her then-mayoral office to ask for advice on getting involved with the district. It was shortly after Lalli's father had passed away, Lonsdale said, and Lalli told her he wanted to give back to the community.
"I have never forgotten that," she said. "And I know your dad looks down and he's proud of you, just as we all are."
Lalli, a father of three, has volunteered for multiple charities and committees. For one year, Lalli was chair of the South Asian Diabetes Action Committee. Before the 2008 election, he was a director on the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp. and has also served on the municipality's accessibility committee. Lalli served on the Economic Advisory Bid Committee for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics Games. For two years, he was chair of the Squamish Economic Development Committee.
In 2001, Lalli sat as chair of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and currently is a regional director. He also currently holds the title of chair of the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District.
Lalli said he plans to keep volunteering with community organizations, but that he wants a break from his council duties to focus on his family and business. Being a councillor is a position which one can devote a lot of time to, he said. Whoever runs in the upcoming election needs to take this into account, Lalli noted. With Mayor Greg Gardner's decision not to run, residents looking to take his spot have big shoes to fill, he added.
"Being on council is a big commitment," Lalli told The Chief.
