The results are in and Chief Fred Sam has been re-elected for another term as the Chief of Nak’azdli Band.
Councillors will be: Wayne Sam, Ann Joseph, Ann Sam, Howard Sam, Crystal Mallard, Carl Leon, Ron Prince, and Violet Prince.
The election was held on August 8 and had a good turnout with a total of 474 valid ballots cast. There are an estimated 600-700 eligible voters in the band membership, putting voter turnout in the 70 per cent range. The last B.C. provincial election had a voter turnout of only 52 per cent of eligible voters.
Nak’zadli Band has a full election of chief and councillors every six years.
Terms for the four councillors with the lowest number of votes are only two-years, while the chief and the four councillors who received the highest votes are elected for three years.
This means Chief Fred Sam, Wayne Sam, Ann Joseph, Ann M. Sam, and Howard Sam will have three-year terms while Crystal Millard, Carl Leon, Ronald Prince and Violet Prince will all have only two-year terms.
The youngest candidate, Kristi Howell, lost out on a councillor position to Ronald Prince by only three votes.
Both Carl Leon and Howard Sam were re-elected councillors from the prior council.
The council now consists of a balance of four women and four men.
Candidate Margot Sagalon was not far behind Fred Sam for the role of chief with 108 votes and Alec McKinnon was not far behind her with 102. The next closest candidate was Vincent C. Prince with 82 votes.
Chief Fred Sam was away on vacation after the election, but look for more on his plans for the next three years in an upcoming article.