Eddie Taylor has been elected chief of the Tr’ondek Hwech’in, ending the nine-year tenure of Darren Taylor.
The incumbent chief was defeated by a margin of 179 to 104. There is no direct relation between the outgoing and incoming chief.
Three out of four councillors — Roberta Joseph, Peter C. Nagano, and Bruce Taylor — have all maintained their seats into the next term. Councillor Steve Taylor was voted out, his position replaced by newcomer Georgette McLeod.
The election involved 285 of a total of 785 eligible voters — a voter turnout of 36 per cent.
Eddie served as deputy chief between 1996 and 1997, a period in which the Tr’ondek Hwech’in finalized their land claims agreement, purchased 28 per cent of the Yukon Inn and Yukon Plaza strip mall, and 100 per cent of Mackenzie Petroleum and Kluane Freightlines.
He has worked for the Yukon Highways and Public Works department of since 1980, and been a supervisor since 1984.
His experience with managing multi-million-dollar budgets has given him ample experience to ensure that each dollar spent by the Tr’ondek Hwech’in is “tracked and recorded,” he stated during the election campaign.
Eddie has pledged to support youth initiatives, training, education, jobs and sports.
“Our youth need to be informed and feel ownership within the band and must prepare for the future to manage the corporation,” he stated in official campaign literature.
Eddie will be sworn in at an official ceremony on Friday.