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Kitselas chief won’t run for top job

The Kitselas chief councillor who guided the first nation to a ‘yes’ vote on a land claims treaty agreement in principle will not run again

The Kitselas chief councillor who guided the first nation to a ‘yes’ vote on a land claims treaty agreement in principle this year has decided not to run again.

Judy Gerow cited family reasons for making her decision.

She is, however, one of 18 candidates for five council seats which will be filled when voting takes place June 12.

“The last two years has totally consumed my  life,” said Gerow who was elected to the chief councillor position in 2011 following 12 years as a councillor.

“My husband passed away just prior to the last election and I really need to spend more time with my family,” she said.

“This job, when you are chief councillor, involves you in everything. It is really a seven day a week job.”

But in running for a councillor position, Gerow said she hopes to put her experience and skills as a chief councillor to work.

“I would really like to keep my involvement in with all that is going on here,” she said.

Making his return to the political arena in a bid to be chief councillor is Glenn Bennett who had been chief councillor for 10 years until defeated by Gerow in 2011.

He’s the treaty implementation director for the Kitselas First Nation and played an instrumental role in the talks leading up to the drafting of the Kitselas agreement in principle.

“If elected I would look forward to working with the other people who are elected,” said Bennett.

In 2011 Bennett first announced he would not be running again but let his name stand at the urging of others.

“And now I was asked again to let my name stand,” he said.

Also running for the chief councillor’s position is Joe Bevan, currently one of the Kitselas First Nation’s five councillors, Shirley P. Gray and Debbie Moore who is also running for a councillor position.

Kitselas election law enables people to run for both a councillor spot and for chief councillor.

Aside from Gerow and Moore 16 people are running for the five council positions.

They are incumbent Web Bennett, incumbent Wilfred Bennett St., Angeline Chinn, Terry Gustave Collins, Jeanette Costello, Dawn L.E. Derrick, Geneva Erickson, incumbent Cora Kennedy, Alfred McDames Sr., Sharlene Lisa Mohr, incumbent Gerald Seymour, Arlene Spalding, Clarisa Spencer, Patricia C. Squires, Lynn Wright and Victor Wright.

Aside from its land claims agreement in principle and ongoing work leading to a final agreement, the Kitselas First Nation has undertaken several economic initiatives.

It cleared the right of way on its traditional territory for BC Hydro’s Northwest Transmission Line now under construction and also cleared right of way on its traditional territory for the Pacific Trails Pipeline, the natural gas line that would feed a planned liquefied natural gas plant at Kitimat.

The Kitselas have to main residential areas – one along Queensway in Thornhill and a second location, a larger one at Gitaus which is east of Terrace on Hwy16.