I would like to try and clear up some misconceptions about why I chose to challenge the recent civic election results wherein I lost to Mr. George Doubt by two votes for the position of City of Powell River councillor [“Candidate sues over election results,” November 23].
This is not about Mr. Doubt or any other candidate who ran for office. I applaud all those who put their name forward for public service. They deserve our thanks.
This is about the process. The process needs to be fair.
If I had lost by a 100 votes this challenge would not be happening. In fact, I would not even have challenged the two-vote result until I talked with a person who knew that someone had voted when they were not entitled to do so.
The fact that this had happened led me to believe there may have been more. To satisfy the possibility that this may have happened and that the outcome of the vote between Mr. Doubt and myself may have been influenced, I did a complete audit, as is my right, of all the voting registries and other documents I was allowed to review pertaining to the election.
The outcome of that audit was that a number of irregularities were identified of people who voted who were not entitled to do so. These were pointed out to the chief electoral officer.
The Local Government Act that governs city and municipal elections is quite clear on how a candidate can challenge on the basis of people voting when not entitled to do so. Given the fact that I found more irregular votes than the votes I lost by, I believe my challenge is warranted. There is case law supporting my challenge.
I am not suing the city; I am merely asking a judge of the Supreme Court of BC to rule on whether the court feels the irregular votes that have been identified and corroborated supports my petition, and may have influenced the vote.
There have been comments on social media questioning my character for doing this. There are comments that I am a sore loser. I do not believe these comments are warranted and I reject them.
All I am asking for is a fair result. I think most fair-minded people would agree.
Al Drummond
Skeena Street
