Lytton to elect 2 new village councillors this weekend as community continues to rebuild

As the village of Lytton, B.C. works to restore the community after it was all but destroyed by a wildfire last summer, residents will head to the polls to select two new leaders this weekend.

Typically, Lytton has four councillors along with a mayor. In early 2021, long-term councillor Tiffany Callawaert stepped down and an election to fill her spot was scheduled for August 7. Nominations were to be submitted by July 2, but when the village was evacuated due to the wildfire just two days before the deadline, the byelection was put on hold. 

Later in December, councillor Robert Leitch resigned after comments he made on social media were criticized for amplifying conspiracy theories.

That left the community, home to about 249 people, with only three elected leaders making big decisions about the village's future.

"The workload is absolutely overwhelming," area MLA Jackie Tegart said. 

"As you go through these kinds of disasters, which I've seen throughout my riding, there is a new importance for leadership at the local level."

Three people are vying for the two spots: Melissa Michell and Ross Urquhart of Lytton, and Ernie Wagner from Agassiz, more than 100 kilometres south of Lytton. Voters are required to live in the community but those running for office are not.

Although Wagner lives out of town, he says he spent several years in Lytton and has relatives and friends in the village. 

"I just thought I could help out seeing they were short on staff and really my heart is to get Lytton built as fast as possible and add some character to the town when it's all done," he said. 

Wagner, a retired CN Rail employee, says the longer the village waits to rebuild, the higher the cost to residents and insurance companies.

Melissa Michell said she was encouraged by loved ones to run for council. She is the finance manager for the Kanaka Indian Band, according to her LinkedIn page, and said she'd like more transparency from council on plans moving forward.

"There's been a lot happening that the residents and property owners don't want," she said, later explaining that dozens of people she's spoken with have concerns about rebuild plans, which include a new energy system that she says wasn't well-researched and is too expensive.

"It seems like there's no voice for us on the council at this time."

CBC tried several times to contact Ross Urquhart, but were unable to connect with him by deadline.