Car dealer gets nearly as many votes as other six candidates put together; voter turnout 24%
Greg Gardner is the newest member of Squamish council after winning a byelection Saturday (June 24) in very convincing fashion.
Gardner, a local car dealer and community activist, won 1,223 votes (49%), more than three times that of his closest rival, developer and trail builder Ted Prior, with 392 votes (15.7%), and only 70 votes less than the rest of the six candidates put together.
Veteran council watchdog Terrill Patterson placed third with 226 votes (9.1%), while accountant Larry McLennan, who was only 26 votes out of a council seat last November, placed fourth with 210 votes (8.4%).
Randy Lewis of the Squamish Nation placed fifth with 189 votes (7.6%), just ahead of Howe Sound Secondary School grad David Clarkson at 170 votes (6.8%). Environmental advocate Spencer Fitschen placed last in the field of seven candidates with 84 votes (3.3%).
Only 2,495 out of 10,300 eligible voters cast ballots (24.2%).
The byelection was caused by the death of Coun. Ray Peters, who succumbed to throat cancer on March 31 of this year.
See this Friday's Chief for more byelection coverage and reaction from the candidates.
