Sandspit's longtime Gwaii Trust Society representative Warren Foster won another term in Saturday's election (Nov. 20), collecting more than twice as many votes as challenger Graham Evenson.
A total of 112 Moresby islanders cast ballots, with 82 votes going to Mr. Foster and 30 votes going to Mr. Evenson.
Mr. Foster said he was somewhat excited about serving another two years on the Gwaii Trust, adding that it would be difficult to step down right when the society is in the middle of wrapping up a couple of big projects.
Mr. Foster, who is one of the society's three executive members, is flying to Ottawa next week to discuss the South Moresby Forest Replacement Account with federal cabinet ministers. He said they are hoping this is one of the last steps to bringing the $24-million account under the control of islanders.
"It's kind of a no-brainer, it does not require any money from the federal government," he said. "I'm pretty confident that we're going to get some progress made."
The group has six meetings scheduled during their time in Ottawa. On the way back, Mr. Foster will be attending an eight-hour meeting in Vancouver with the Gwaii Trust's broadband consultant. Broadband- a form of internet access- is the Trust's other big project.
Mr. Foster said he was pleasantly surprised by the fact that 112 people voted, and that he appreciated the mandate. The voter turnout was somewhat lower than in the 2002 election, when 186 people voted, a fact he attributed to a shrinking population in Sandspit.