With 113 votes, Chief Eddie Taylor of the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation was re-elected Monday.
Only 23 votes separated him and his predecessor, Darren Taylor, who was seeking his fourth term in office. The third and final chief candidate, former councillor Roberta Joseph, took 62 votes.
Six candidates put their names forward for four councillor positions. Jay Farr, Clara Van Bibber, Lynn Rear and Steve Taylor took the spots, in that order.
All councillor candidates, including Ben Peirson and Bruce Warnsby who were not elected, got more ballots than any of the chief candidates, ranging from 118, to 191 votes.
This is Eddie Taylor’s second term as chief. Before him, Darren Taylor was the first chief to be elected after the First Nation signed its self-government and land claim agreements, and he served three terms at that time. The Dawson City-based First Nation does not limit the number of terms, consecutive or not, for its elected officials. The terms last three years.
(Roxanne Stasyszyn)