The Tsilhqot’in National Government is supporting Kerry Cook for mayor.
On Tuesday, the TNG, which had decided it was backing the incumbent mayor weeks ago, made it official.
TNG tribal chair Joe Alphonse said while there was a concern amongst the nation’s leaders that Cook along with the other mayoral candidates support the Prosperity Mine project, he said they felt she was the best candidate to work on this issue in a “respectful and honest” way.
What prompted the TNG to make its endorsement public, said Alphonse, was the earlier support of former TNG tribal chair Ervin Charleyboy of Scott Nelson.
“We want to make sure that the message is clear from current leadership that this (Cook) is the best possible and most trustworthy candidate that we can work with,” Alphonse said.
“We don’t know whether it’s going to be a plus or a minus coming out but the message from our community is that she’s the candidate we are supporting.”
Cook, he said, had demonstrated that people with different opinions would be supported.
For her part, Cook welcomed the endorsement.
“Over the last three years we’ve made it a priority to continue to build those relationships and I think we’ve made great strides and worked together on a number of initiatives.
“I think that really speaks volumes with how far we’ve come and I think the respect is mutual. I think that’s what’s going to be really important in walking through the next few months.”