Joe Alphonse has been re-elected as chief of the Tl’etinqox (Anaham) First Nation.
The incumbent Alphonse won the seat with 195 votes compared to 70 votes for his closest rival Leslie Stump.
“I think it’s an overwhelming victory by my community. I think that was a strong statement made by the membership of my community so I’m pretty excited,” Alphonse said Friday.
Nine of the band’s council members were re-elected: Eleanor Cooper, Randy Billyboy, Leslie Stump, Paul Grinder, Berry Hink, Emily Dick, Herbie Jim, Blaine Grinder, and Graylin Johnny.
There are three new councillors: Ronnie Elkins, Anthony Billyboy Sr. and Isidore Harry.
Alphonse took the win as an endorsement of his leadership over the last two years.
“Obviously I feel that I’m on the right track as indicated by the voters here so we’ll have to continue.
“We did a lot in our two years here. We’ve probably been the most accomplished chief and council in the history of the community,” he says noting the community’s new church, health-care facility and sawmill acquisition all occurred during his tenure.
Alphonse’s future plans include addressing the community’s housing budget deficit, building on business/development and employment opportunities, acquiring a new school, improving the community’s overall fiscal outlook and taking community direction on any revised Prosperity mine project.
“I think overall the community had been in a dark place. It wasn’t represented the way that members wanted for so long. … They want to continue to grow and continue to be honest and transparent with open policies and I think that’s what we’ll continue to do,” Alphonse says.
The re-election of Alphonse as Tl’etinqox chief means that he will continue as tribal chair for the Tsilhqot’in National Government.