Councillor Lum rejects accusations from rival about past business activities

if (Array.isArray(socast_page.categories) && socast_page.categories.some(category => category.includes('FraserValleyToday'))) { $(document).on('pjax:end', function() { const newPath = window.location.pathname + window.location.search + window.location.hash; window.location.href = 'https://fraservalleytoday.ca' + newPath; } }if (Array.isArray(socast_page.categories) && socast_page.categories.some(category => category.includes('FraserValleyToday'))) { $(document).on('pjax:end', function() { const newPath = window.location.pathname + window.location.search + window.location.hash; window.location.href = 'https://fraservalleytoday.ca' + newPath; } }

CHILLIWACK – Chilliwack Councillor Jason Lum, one of four mayoral candidates in this Saturday’s municipal election, is rejecting unsubstantiated claims levelled against him by one of his opponents about his previous business activities.

The Conservative Electors Association sent a statement to news media outlets Wednesday (Oct. 14) claiming that Councillor’s Lum past business dealings somehow disqualify him to serve as Chilliwack’s next mayor. The Conservative Party of Chilliwack claims it’s demanding an independent investigation into alleged conflicts of interest involving Lum, and claimed that Lum voted to appoint directors of city-owned corporations that did business with Myriad, a company he was once involved in. One of his opponents, Surrey resident Martina Rosini, is quoted in the Conservative Electors Association news release pushing for an independent inquiry.

In response, Lum wrote on social media that he’s rejecting the latest accusations from a candidate and an organization that are not based in Chilliwack. He is asking Rosini to substantiate her claims.

“I believe in accountability. I believe in transparency. And I believe anyone seeking public office should be prepared to answer difficult questions,” Lum said. “I also appreciate that the other candidates in this election (including all of the other mayoral candidates and the 19 council candidates) have not engaged in the same kind of personal attacks we’ve seen from this political organization based outside our community. I believe in honesty, fairness, decency and treating others with dignity. These are the values I live by, and no political party has cornered the market on them. These are community values. They are Chilliwack values.”

During his time on council and as the chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District board of directors, Lum says he’s working with people of all political persuasions.

“I’ve spent 15 years serving Chilliwack, working with people from all political stripes. We haven’t always agreed. In fact, I’ve always believed we can disagree without losing respect for one another,” Lum said. “In the last few weeks, I’ve faced attack ads and allegations, everything from bizarre and defamatory claims about my support for free drugs, to personal accusations and, most recently, a press release questioning my integrity over a business I sold years ago to one of my employees. These attacks have come from mayoral candidate Martina Rosini, who lives in Surrey, and her electoral organization, led by David Denhoff, who lives in North Vancouver.”

Lum had a specific message for people on the centre-right of the political spectrum, as well as his allies and supporters.

“To my conservative friends and neighbours, many of whom I’ve known and respected for decades: you don’t have to agree with my politics to expect the same standards from those who claim to represent your values,” Lum said. “And to all my friends hoping I will respond to personal attacks with personal attacks. That’s not who I am, and it’s not the example I want to set. At the end of this election, we will still be neighbours. We will still see each other in our community. And we will still have to work together. This election will come and go. Our character, our integrity and our values are what remain.”

Lum says he will not engage in the same type of character assassination as one of his opponents.

“So, for those of you wondering, I intend to finish this campaign exactly as I started it: focused on the people of Chilliwack and the future we’re building together,” Lum said.