SURREY - Dave Hayer has decided not to run for political office in the next provincial election.

The long-time Liberal MLA for Surrey-Tynehead said he's "achieved virtually" all the goals he set out to accomplish during his 11 years in office.

"I entered provincial politics to accomplish a number of things that I believed were needed in my constituency," he said.

These include the new Port Mann Bridge, highway expansion in Surrey, Surrey Memorial Hospital's expansion, the opening of a new outpatient hospital in North Surrey, new elementary and new secondary schools, among other things.

Hayer, a former editor of the Indo-Canadian Times, got into politics after his dad, newspaper publisher Tara Singh Hayer, was assassinated inside the garage of his Guildford home in 1998.

"Regardless of what my future holds in the coming years, I will continue to fight for greater crime prevention and for the rights of victims to supersede those of criminals."

Meantime, Hayer added, "Throughout the remaining months of my term of office I will continue to work hard on behalf of my constituents."

tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com