Members of the Lil’wat Nation will get their first official chance to hear from candidates next weekend as they prepare to vote in March.
A final candidate list was released late last week, with three individuals hoping to be elected chief and 33 in the running for council. Chief Lucinda Phillips will seek re-election against Fraser Andrew and Coun. Vaughan Gabriel.
Candidates will be giving speeches between 2 and 5 p.m. at Mount Currie’s Ullus Community Complex on Feb. 16.
The final list was pared down from last week’s nomination list, with nominees able to withdraw their names by a Jan. 30 deadline. Eleven current band councillors are hoping to be voted back onto the 12-member council for another two-year term.
The March 9 elections will also include referendum votes on new Lil’wat election and citizenship codes. The new election code establishes a two-chief system and four-year terms for elected officials starting in 2015. The revised citizenship code eliminates the double-parent rule for automatic band membership, meaning children of just one Lil’wat parent would be granted immediate citizenship.
Information meetings on the new band codes were held this week, with more scheduled for later in the month. Further info sessions will be at the Ullus complex on Feb. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. and at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre on Feb. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Voters requiring a mail-in ballot or more information about voting may contact electoral officer Fred Schiffner by email at fschiffner@dccnet.com or at 604-943-0522.
Candidates
Chief
Fraser Andrew
Vaughan Gabriel
Lucinda Phillips
Council
Rebecca Abraham
Joshua Ryan Anderson
Christine Andrew
Bernadette Dennis
Baren Gabriel
Ernest (Mark) Gabriel
Vaughan Gabriel
Richenda Grafton
Justin Green
Christopher Irving
Dixie Jim
Eva Maria Joe
Joanne John
Luke Johnny
Lois (Mamaya) Joseph
Maxine Joseph-Bruce
Linda Lepine
Dean Nelson
Fay Nelson
Felicite Nelson
Debra Parker
Matilda Pascal
Nadine Pascal
Martina Pierre
William Ritchie
Tara Smith
Rosemary Stager
Alphonse (Eyes) Wallace
Brett Wallace
Carl Wallace
Jonathan (Jaboo) Wallace
Kristen Wallace
Carolyn Ward
