{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Distinguish|Bruce Bauman}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bruce Banman | image = Bruce Banman.jpg | honorific_suffix = MLA | caption = Banman in 2026 | office = Caucus whip of the Conservative Party of British Columbia | leader = John Rustad<br>Trevor Halford (interim) | term_start = November 20, 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = ''Vacant'' | successor = | assembly1 = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM1 = Abbotsford South | term_start1 = October 24, 2020 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Darryl Plecas | successor1 = | office2 = Abbotsford City Councillor | term_start2 = 2018 | term_end2 = 2021 | office3 = Mayor of Abbotsford | term_start3 = 2011 | term_end3 = 2014 | predecessor3 = George Peary | successor3 = Henry Braun | birth_name = Richard Bruce Banman | birth_date = | birth_place = | party = BC Conservative (2023–present) | other_party = BC United (2020–2023) | occupation = Politician, Chiropractor }}
'''Richard Bruce Banman''' {{Small|MLA}} is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) representing the electoral district of Abbotsford South since 2020. He was elected as a member of the BC Liberal Party (later renamed BC United), then crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party in 2023. Prior to provincial politics, he served as the mayor of Abbotsford from 2011 to 2014, and an Abbotsford city councillor from 2018 to 2021.
== Early life and career == Raised in Chilliwack, Banman moved to Abbotsford in the early 1980s.<ref name="AN111005">{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Kevin |date=2011-10-05 |title=Banman seeking mayor's chair |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/banman-seeking-mayors-chair-1729756 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Uytdewilligen |first=Ryan |date=2020-10-16 |title=Candidate Q&A: Bruce Banman |url=https://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/candidate-qa-bruce-banman-2236707 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Aldergrove Star |language=en-CA}}</ref> He attended Fraser Valley College<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-11 |title=Mayor Bruce Banman is one… are you? UFV looking for lost alumni |url=https://blogs.ufv.ca/blog/2012/12/mayor-bruce-banman-is-one-are-you-ufv-looking-for-lost-alumni/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> before transferring to the Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon.<ref name="AN141024">{{Cite web |date=2014-10-24 |title=MAYOR: Banman, Bruce |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/mayor-banman-bruce-1731060 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> He graduated in 1997,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-12-13 |title=152nd Commencement Exercises: December 13, 1997 |url=https://history.uws.edu/pdf/UWS_Chapter_11/commence_dec_97.pdf |access-date=2025-01-20 |publisher=Western States Chiropractic College |language=en}}</ref> then worked as a chiropractor and small business owner in Abbotsford.<ref name="AN111005"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bruce Banman at Conservative Party of BC |url=https://www.conservativebc.ca/BruceBanman |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Conservative Party of BC |language=en}}</ref> He is married with two children.<ref name="AN141024"/>
== Political career ==
=== Abbotsford municipal politics === Banman was elected mayor of Abbotsford in 2011, defeating incumbent mayor George Peary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Judd |first=Amy |date=2011-11-19 |title=Abbotsford election results 2011: elected Mayor {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/179817/abbotsford-election-results-2011-elected-mayor/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Global News |language=en-CA}}</ref> He ran for re-election in 2014, but was defeated by Henry Braun by fewer than 600 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Tyler |date=2014-11-18 |title=Braun wins the west, Banman the east in mayor's race |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/braun-wins-the-west-banman-the-east-in-mayors-race-1737708 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> He returned to municipal politics in 2018 by winning a seat on the Abbotsford City Council, receiving the second-highest number of votes among the candidates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Tyler |date=2018-09-14 |title=Former mayor Banman running for Abbotsford council seat |url=https://www.abbynews.com/municipal-election/former-mayor-banman-running-for-abbotsford-council-seat-1779261 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Tyler |date=2018-10-21 |title=UPDATED: Candidates reflect on election wins – and losses |url=https://www.abbynews.com/municipal-election/im-elated-braun-wins-incumbents-returned-en-masse-banman-back-1780671 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> Throughout his career he advocated for agricultural sustainability and the protection of farming heritage.<ref name=":0" />
=== BC United/Liberals === Banman announced in May 2019 his intention to seek the BC Liberal nomination for the riding of Abbotsford South in the next provincial election;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Tyler |date=2019-05-23 |title=Bruce Banman to seek Abbotsford South BC Liberal nomination |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/bruce-banman-to-seek-bc-liberal-nomination-1789429 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> he defeated two others to secure the nomination in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Tyler |date=2020-02-09 |title=Banman selected as BC Liberal candidate in Abbotsford South |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/banman-selected-as-bc-liberal-candidate-in-abbotsford-south-1798201 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> He was subsequently elected in the October 2020 general election, defeating Inder Johal of the New Democratic Party by over 2,000 votes,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-24 |title=Liberal Bruce Banman declared winner in Abbotsford South |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/liberal-bruce-banman-declared-winner-in-abbotsford-south-1805658 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> and resigned as councillor in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lypka |first=Ben |date=2021-02-18 |title=Bruce Banman stepping down as Abbotsford city councillor |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/bruce-banman-stepping-down-as-abbotsford-city-councillor-1809059 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> He served in the shadow cabinet as critic for emergency management, climate readiness and citizens' services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopes |first=Vikki |date=2022-12-08 |title=Abbotsford's 2 Liberal MLAs receive shadow minister appointments |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/abbotsfords-2-liberal-mlas-receive-shadow-minister-appointments-1831107 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref>
=== Conservative Party of BC === On September 13, 2023, Banman crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party, becoming the party's second MLA in the legislature;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=BC United MLA Bruce Banman defects to provincial Conservatives |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bc-united-mla-bruce-banman-defects-to-provincial-conservatives/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=CTV News |language=en-CA |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> he justified his move as allowing him to better represent his constituents. His crossing gave the Conservatives official party status in the legislature, and he was named the caucus house leader.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DeRosa |first=Katie |date=2023-09-13 |title=Update: MLA's defection to B.C. Conservatives could spell trouble for B.C. United party |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/mlas-defection-to-b-c-conservatives-could-spell-trouble-for-b-c-united/wcm/19612740-486f-4923-be28-5fb9c4cda8e1/ |access-date=2023-09-13}}</ref>
He was re-elected as a Conservative in the 2024 provincial election, garnering 62% of the vote <ref>{{Cite web |title=BC election 2024 results: Abbotsford South {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10778961/bc-election-2024-results-abbotsford-south/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Global News |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lypka |first=Ben |date=2024-10-19 |title=Abbotsford South results: Bruce Banman re-elected as MLA |url=https://www.abbynews.com/local-news/abbotsford-south-results-bruce-banman-re-elected-as-mla-7598507 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref> and was named party whip by Conservative leader John Rustad that November.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |first=Vikki |last=Hopes |title=Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman named party whip for Conservatives |url=https://www.abbynews.com/local-news/abbotsford-south-mla-bruce-banman-named-party-whip-for-conservatives-7661032 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en-CA}}</ref>
In February, he announced his campaign for the 2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election. However, he withdrew in March.
== Electoral record == {{2024 British Columbia general election/Abbotsford South}} {{2020 British Columbia general election/Abbotsford South}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{British Columbia MLAs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banman, Bruce}} Category:Living people Category:BC United MLAs Category:British Columbia Conservative Party MLAs Category:British Columbia municipal councillors Category:Canadian chiropractors Category:Mayors of Abbotsford, British Columbia Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Category:21st-century mayors of places in British Columbia Category:Canadian politicians who switched parties