Ian Hetman of Tow Hill Road will be sworn in as the new regional district director for Area D, after winning a four-candidate election July 31.
The victory was sweet for Mr. Hetman, who held the Area D from 1999 to 2002, but has lost two elections since then. In the municipal elections of November 2002, he was beaten by Ian Lordon, who resigned a year later. In the by-election that followed, Mr. Hetman lost to Gilbert Parnell. But Mr. Parnell held the seat for only a few months before resigning in May, paving the way for Mr. Hetman's victory on Saturday.
"I'm happy," he told the Observer Monday. "I felt that I did a conscientious job the first time I was in, and I'm happy to be back."
Mr. Hetman received 54 votes. His nearest rival, Tlell fire chief Terry Mitchell, received 37, while Skidegate's John Wesley received 30 and Michael Muller of Lawn Hill received 20.
Mr. Hetman said that he has plenty of time to devote to regional district business, as he has been retired since 1995. He also represents Masset on the Gwaii Trust Society.
He'll have to travel to Kelowna for his first meeting, to be held in September. Regional district directors will be gathering there for the annual Union of BC Municipalities convention.
Meanwhile, one of the first things he plans to do is meet with the Skidegate and Old Massett councils to discuss their representation at the Graham Island Advisory Planning Commission, and other issues. He's also looking forward to working with the new Tlell community association, as well as the other groups in Area D.