born canadian politician elected 39th parliament british_columbia member british_columbia riding richmond centre member replaced retiring riding winning riding provincial election party formed majority government howard included cabinet appointed committees including sessions fourth session howard introduced piece legislation corporate restoration act restore organization corporate status chair howard supported premier campbell efforts establishing following campbell resignation howard endorsed won leadership election clark eventually howard parliamentary secretary position advocated open sky agreements continued advocacy post political life establishing non profit organization howard seek election provincial election replaced prior election legislature howard worked property management served city councillor richmond british_columbia seven years elected richmond october election member elected november civic elections member sat council independent starting council advocated favour casino expansion locating olympic speed skating oval richmond developing convention centre background born raised richmond graduated studied went work years started business specialized property management married son jay howard volunteered years active tourism richmond mother served howard political career began civic election october howard belonging civic political party elected available seats year council howard left richmond non partisan association join new pro business political party richmond saw controlling allowing independent decisions elected november civic election taking council seats local issues howard advocate opening richmond gambling facilities led river rock casino resort supportive heritage preservation measures opposed richmond tree preservation council preferred elevated option known richmond airport vancouver line preferred ground level option extension advocate building convention centre ardent supporter removing acre piece land possible location removal refused possibility city constructing speed skating oval associated winter olympics came howard vocal supporter travelled norway committee investigate similar facilities built winter olympics traveled quebec asia sister city program supportive proposals build new soccer facility financially contributing tall ships tourism attractions previous councils funding commitments expense city reserve funds tax base howard time council marked consistent property tax increases year howard unsuccessfully lobbied hire police officers subject lawsuit richmond alleging conflict interest occurred approved allowing controversial pub civic election elected richmond party won seats unsuccessfully lobbied fellow appoint fill richmond seats metro vancouver party members supporting metro vancouver seat finding number issues supporting line elevated opposing tree preservation wanting hire police officers howard left richmond party february independent provincial politics following announcement richmond centre seeking election howard announced january seek replace candidate election came forward challenge howard acclaimed november candidate general election held challenged candidate public candidate teacher candidate riding considered safe seat win year old howard win vote winning majority government 39th parliament began premier include howard cabinet howard appoint sessions fourth sessions chaired committee traveled province gathering public input budget spending priorities appointed sessions committee held meetings introduced piece legislation private members bill corporate restoration act restored organization corporate status howard toured province advocating federal government enter open skies agreements asian nations advocated howard remained loyal premier campbell praising october announcement remainder budget cut income tax weeks deliver report public consultation budget priorities campbell resigned tax cut leadership election ensued richmond howard endorsed new party leader citing falcon willingness listen arguments saying think bring new dynamic youthful energy discussion great speaker great eventually won leadership premier like campbell include howard executive council march premier clark promoted howard parliamentary secretary position directed focus air services agreements served september early howard selected caucus chair assist party investigation party alleged use government resources employees partisan promotional efforts certain ethnic communities following summer future howard cited personal reasons including desire spend time wife september announcement seeking election coming provincial general election decision surprise party richmond centre riding considered safe seat elected obvious successor competitive primary began end year candidates announced intention run school trustee officer howard approached ceo chinese language radio station replacement live riding viewed better candidate january party announced candidate candidate withdrew nomination accept position political advisory committee law alleged harassed drop requested investigation law decided run independent candidate received vote winning election subsequently named minister international trade following election howard founded non profit organization advocate open sky agreements allow airline competition canadian international airports electoral history
Rob Howard