VICTORIA, B.C. – The Islands Trust has announced an election date, to fill its vacant trustee seat on Hornby Island.
Island Trust announced that a local by-election has been set for March 2, 2019 for voters in the Hornby Island Local Trust Area.
The by-election process started with the appointment, effective Dec. 20, of Peter Crawford as Chief Election Officer and will take place provided electors nominate more than one qualified candidate to run for the position.
The nomination period will run from 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15 through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25.
Should more than one qualified candidate be nominated, the Chief Election Officer will confirm on Feb. 4 that the by-election will go forward.
Should only one qualified candidate be nominated, the Chief Election Officer will declare that candidate elected by acclamation as of Feb. 4.
The newly elected trustee will serve for the remainder of the 2018-2022 term and join a three-member local trust committee, which has the authority to make land use plans and regulations for the Hornby Island Local Trust Area.
They will also sit on the Islands Trust Council, which considers broader regional policy, operational, and financial decisions to achieve the provincial “preserve and protect” mandate of the Islands Trust.
To give more information on nomination procedures, a Notice of Nomination will appear in local newspapers that circulate in the Hornby Island Local Trust Area between Dec. 20 and Jan. 3.
Non-resident electors will be advised by letter of the by-election process. Information on the entire by-election process will be available and updated regularly on the Islands Trust website.
By-elections for local trustee positions are held in accordance with Part 3 of the Local Government Act.
The seat became vacant in late October after Tony Law resigned as trustee for Hornby Island and as chair of the Islands Trust Conservancy.
The cause of the resignation was given as “allegations of a personal nature” which came to light.
However, the Comox Valley Record reported on those allegations, which came from multiple female residents of the island in the wake of Law’s recent re-election.
