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Fraser-Cascade school district hosts by-election to fill void left by passing of Tom Hendrickson

Advance voting begins on July 17, with general voting on July 27
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School District 78 is hosting a by-election in Area 3 to choose a new trustee after the passing of long-time board member, Tom Hendrickson. Sarah Gawdin/Hope Standard

After the unexpected passing of Tom Hendrickson, who’d served as trustee in the Fraser-Cascade area for nearly three decades, left a vacancy in April, the Board had no choice but to call a byelection to fill the position. So now, years earlier than expected, the residents of Area 3 are being called back to vote for who they’d like to represent them as a trustee on the school board.

And unlike in previous elections, there’s quite a selection of candidates this time around, whereas Hendrickson was noted as saying he typically “won by acclamation.”

That won’t be the case this byelection as seven people have put their names forward as candidates for School Board Trustee: Sequel Adamson, Cheryl Davidson, Tom Durrie, Bronwyn Punch, Cathy Speth, Hollie Traas, and Wilfried Vicktor are all vying for vacancy.

“Advance voting begins on Wednesday, July 17,” said Jim Delnea, who’s serving as the byelection’s deputy chief election officer. “General voting will be on July 27.”

For both the advance and general voting session, there will be two voting locations: one at the Meeting Room at the Chawathil First Nation (60814 Lougheed Hwy), and the other will be at the Boston Bar Elementary School (47632 Old Boston Bar Rd.), and both will be open from 8 a.m. til 8 p.m.

Voter registration will happen at the time of voting, and voting is only open to members of Area 3 in the Fraser-Cascade district (see map).

Preliminary results will be released after the general vote on July 27, and the official announcement will be made at 1 p.m. on July 31.

“Everything should go smoothly,” said Delnea. “All the candidates seem interested in the position, so I think it will be an interesting election.”

For more information about the byelection, or about the Fraser-Cascade school district, please visit their website at SD78.bc.ca.