By law, the Strathcona Regional District is required to elect a Chair and Vice Chair every year. The SRD Board met on Wednesday November 27, and according to the resulting press release stated that Mayor Mark Baker was re-elected Chair for the third consecutive year. What it does not say is that their were two other candidates: Mark Vonesch of Cortes Island and Gerald Whalley of Area A.
This segment of the meeting was Chaired by Senior Manager Thomas Yates:
“We’ll call the November 27th Inaugural Board Meeting to order and in accordance with your procedure bylaw proceed straight away to the election of Chair. Procedure requires that we take nominations from the floor, so I would ask at this time if there are any nominations to be made by the directors for Chair. Director Sinnott?”
Susan Sinnott: Yes, I’ll nominate Director Mark Baker for Chair.
Mr Yates: “Thank-you very much. Are there any further nominations for Chair? Director Davis?”
Mayor Martin Davis: “I’ll nominate Director Vonesh.”
Mr Yates: “Director Vonesh, would you accept that?”
Mark Vonesch: “Thank you.”
Mr Yates: “Are there any further nominations for the position of Chair? Director Mawhinney?”
Robyn Mawhinney: “I would like to nominate Director Whalley for the position of Chair.”
Mr Yates: “Director Whalley, would you accept that?
Gerald Whalley: “Yes, I would.”
Mr Yates: “Thank you, for the last time, any further nominations for the position of Chair? Hearing none, we will proceed with ballot for election.”
“Before we do that, we will allow the candidates if they wish to make a short statement in support of their election, starting with Director Baker. You were nominated first off, do you have anything that you would like to offer the board.”
Mark Baker: “Just that it’s been an honour for me to serve as Chair for the last two years, and I would love to continue to do so. Thank-you.”
Mr Yates: “Thank you. Director Vonesh, would you like to say a few words?”
Mark Vonesch: “Yes, thank you. I just want to start by thanking Director Baker for holding this position for two years. And I know it’s not an easy position to hold.”
“I appreciate his leadership and I think this is a good opportunity for change and for mixing things up. I love this work. I believe deeply in our ability as local government officials to make change for the people that we work for, our constituents, and for our ability to work together as a team to find the common ground to make positive change.”
“I have a finance background, I almost became a banker. I’ve run my own business for the last two decades. I’ve had the privilege of working in Indigenous communities all across Canada, working with young people and elders in film projects, and I’m passionate about this work. I’m committed and honoured for the nomination, and I’m committed to take this position to provide leadership to this board and be committed to finding common ground and supporting the initiatives and the needs that we all have, which are diverse. We look around this boardroom and we have different priorities, and I think the role of Chair is to hold all of those priorities. That’s what I’m committed to do in this position and I would appreciate your support. Thank you.”
Mr Yates: “Thank you. Director Whalley, would you like to say a few words?”
The first words of Director Whalley’s reply was difficult to hear. He explained, “One day I’ll learn how to push that button.”
“I have been on the board since it was created. I think it’s a good idea to give every jurisdiction an opportunity to be Chair. In the beginning we had Gold River, then Electoral Area C and then Zeballos. Sayward Director McDonald was Chair for a while, and then Campbell River, Michelle Babchuk. Then Gold River we had again for a while, and now Sayward. So, I think it would be nice to select another area for a change.”
“Personally, I don’t really covet the job, but I would be very honoured to hold it. I would put my heart into it. I would fulfill every obligation that’s required. I have had a lot of experience in running meetings and if you would select me, I would be delighted. So thank you very much.”
Mr Yates: “Thank you, Director Whalley. So, Edith has already passed out the ballot papers, I believe, and if the directors would care to mark their preference. One candidate only please, and under your procedure bylaw, you require eight votes to be elected as Chair.”
After the votes were counted, Mr Yates announced, “We have failed to elect the board Chair for 2025. Director Whalley received the lowest number of votes, so he will be taken off the list and we’ll do another voting round. So just a reminder, the choices this time around will be between Director Baker and Director Vonesh, the two remaining candidates.”
After a short interval, Mr Yates declared, “The board has elected Director Baker as the Chair for 2025. Congratulations and thanks to all who ran for the position. The next item on the agenda is the election of the Vice Chair, and we’ll follow the same procedure, taking nomination from the floor, then proceed to voting if necessary.”
Chair Baker: “I nominate Matthew Jack as Vice Chair.”
Susan Sinnott: “Second.”
Director Jack represents the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations.
Mr Yates: “Director Jack, you’ve been nominated, would you accept that nomination?”
Matthew Jack: “I humbly accept.”
Mr Yates: “Thank you, are there any further nominations for Vice Chair? For the third and last time, any nominations for Vice Chair? Hearing none, I will declare Director Jack elected by acclamation to the Vice Chair position.”
Matthew Jack: “Thank you.”
Mr Yates: “Chair Baker, would you like to Chair, the rest of the meeting please.”
Image at top of page: Re-elected Chair Mark Baker and new Vice Chair Matthew Jack
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