File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

CASIMIR RE-ELECTED

Casimir hopes to incorporate platform ideas from Gottfriedson after defeating him for Kukpi7

Nov 13, 2024 | 7:00 PM

TK’EMLUPS — Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc held its chief and council election over the weekend with Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir securing another term in office. Casimir received 282 votes or 58 per cent, defeating challenger Joshua Gottfriedson, who received 201 votes. The seven seats on council went to Nikki Fraser, Myron Thomas, David Manuel, Daylin Malloy, Thomas Blank, Vicki Manuel and Boyd Gottfriedson.

Casmir campaigned on the promise of completing projects around her community such as the Healing House and Elders’ Lodge.

“[To] see those next steps with the museum but also with our Elders’ Lodge as well. Our Healing House is well underway and that was a top priority, so I am pretty thrilled about that. We also have another priority and that is an activity centre, a youth centre for our community,” said Casimir.

Casimir beat out Gottfriedson for the office of Kukpi7, but with him receiving more than 40 per cent of the votes, Casimir plans to bring his platform ideas forward.

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“My opponent Joshua — he had 41 per cent of membership vote for him and voted for him for things that he was standing on and his platform, so we are definitely going to be incorporating what he ran on as well. To me, that is also 41 per cent of our membership who would like to see some of those mandates move forward,” stated Casimir.

Judging personal success in public office can at times be difficult, for Casimir the next three years are about improving the lives of her community members.

“I’m going to see other leadership be able to step into those roles and those positions to see a lot of those initiatives move forward on behalf of our people and our community,” said Casimir. “But looking at things where our community can also say, ‘Good job’ to the leadership and really truly listen to some of the things that they deem important as well.”

Casimir never truly dreamed of becoming Kukpi7 and while she didn’t rule out another run in 2027, as she enters term number three, a succession plan is important to her.

“I’m truly humbled and honoured to be representing another term,” said Casimir. “I do know that I always think about succession planning and I just want to support anyone that may be interested in that top seat in the future. Because to me it’s always about passing the torch but also to share experiences but also to share those opportunities as well.”

Tk’emlúps chief and council are set to be sworn into office Wednesday night (Nov 13).