North Coast MLA Gary Coons won't run again in next B.C. election

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. - North Coast New Democrat MLA Gary Coons has announced he won't be running again in the next B.C. election.

Coons joins more than a dozen other members of the legislature, both Liberal and NDP, who have also announced they're giving up politics before voters head to the polls next May.

The two-term MLA says he's honoured to have served his constituents and thanked them for putting their trust in him.

Coons says he's proud to be part of such a dedicated team of New Democrats and is looking forward to seeing the party bring positive change in 2013.

New Democrats Dawn Black of New Westminster and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Michael Sather have also announced they won't be running.

Several Liberal MLAs, including former cabinet ministers George Abbott, Kevin Falcon and Blair Lekstrom, have said they too will be leaving politics before the next election.