All across BC multiple elections have been taking place today, November 19, 2011, and I was helping cover the election results right here in Fort St. John.
In my opinion the biggest race in this election was for the role as Mayor. The going out Mayor, Bruce Lantz, has a bit of an uneasy history as Mayor and as he was not going to seek re-elections it became a chance for someone new. So we had Don Irwin and Lori Ackerman, both previous councillors put in their name, along with PRRD resident, but Fort St. John business owner, Mike Murray.
From the start I felt as though this race was going to be closer than people expected, these things normally are. Don and Lori were neck and neck by the end of it, with Murray left in the dust. The final results were Lori 1269 and Don 1209, a close race.
While Lori is a friend, to me it doesn’t matter ultimately who is Mayor, while I’m glad she has gotten the position and I believe she will do amazing, I’m not that up on the politics of this town. People with shun me for not being informed, but I believe I know enough to make an educated vote, but it is definitely not something I am interested.
Regardless of all that, I got this picture below to capture the moment. It is from seconds after Lori was announced the as Mayor. As it was called out Andy, Lori’s husband let out a yell – or more of a yelp – of excitement and relief.
As a personal friend of Lori, I think she will be great as mayor.