Nominations held for chief and council of Westbank First Nation

GENERAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15

WESTBANK FIRST NATION – Nominations for chief and council of the Westbank First Nation are in for the 2016 election.

Incumbent Chief Robert Louie has been nominated for chief along with all of the incumbent councillors: Mike De Guevera, Chris Derrickson, Brian Eli and Mic Werstiuk.

Roxanne Lindley, who took a run at the chief’s chair last election, has also been nominated. Lindley is the only one besides Louie who previously announced their intention to run in 2016.

Former Chief Ron Derrickson was also nominated for chief as was Larry Derrickson.

Including the incumbent councillors, 38 people were nominated for council, including Jordan Coble, curator of the Sncewips Heritage Museum and Fernanda Alexander, who came in fifth running for one of the four councillor positions in the 2013 band elections.

The five nominees for chief and the 38 nominees for council have until next Thursday, July 28 to accept the nomination and prove their eligibility to run.

The final list of candidates will be posted at the band office next Friday.

Karley Scott, a local Liberal candidate during the last federal election, is serving as electoral officer for the band elections.

The failed private hospital deal, which cost the band $8.2 million to recover land it committed to the project, is sure to be an election issue.

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