Former chief Kim Baird's name will be on the ballot when members of the Tsawwassen First Nation go back to the polls.
In an interview with the Optimist this week, Baird said she took some time to think about running again if another election were called and decided she would seek the office she had held for the previous 13 years.
"I gave it a lot of thought and based on requests from the community, and the fact that I made that original commitment to this term, I've decided to run again if the appeals were upheld," she said.
Baird, who had been chief since 1999, lost a narrow race to Bryce Williams in September.
The TFN announced this week that it must hold another election in the wake of its Judicial Council ruling that two appeals following the Sept. 5 general election were upheld.
The TFN Judicial Council heard arguments a couple of weeks ago why the election results should be tossed. It's the first appeal heard by the council, which formed in 2009 to act as a supreme court for the First Nation.
Baird didn't personally launch an appeal but her brother, Mike Baird, was one of the two appellants. The other was Christina Shellar.
They filed appeals in regard to the election notices, saying a wrong date on one of the notices impacted the outcome of the election.
"The Judicial Council has been very thorough in its analysis of this appeal and did a good job. I am pleased with the outcome and glad I persevered. It was a new process and not easy but the results ensure our members have access to a fair voting process," said Mike Baird in a press release Tuesday.
Shellar echoed that view, saying, "I am relieved that the Judicial Council made a decision in our favour. It was important to me that voters have a fair process and a new election allows the members of the TFN to participate in the democratic process."
Responding to the decision, Williams said, "We thank the Judicial Council for their service in upholding TFN laws, and for making a fair and objective decision. It's now up to the TFN executive council to decide when the election will be held."
Williams, a 23-year-old carver, defeated Baird 78 to 69. He was first elected to the TFN's government in 2009, having served on the executive council, which is reserved for the top vote getters in an election.
The defeat of Baird, who was acclaimed in the 2009 election, was seen a surprise to many. She negotiated B.C.'s first urban treaty and her ouster came at a critical juncture for the TFN as it embarks on major development plans.
A notice of the new election must be called by the executive council no later than Jan. 11, 2013. The TFN Elections Act states the executive council must give at least 90 days' notice for a general election.
In the interim, the current government will continue to serve.
The new election will determine who will be chief as well as remembers of the legislative assembly and executive council.
In the September election, 260 TFN members were eligible to vote out of a population of 439 members. Only 148 members voted, a 57 per cent turnout.
