Becky Hogg has won a seat at North Cowichan council after edging her nearest competitor, Joanna Lord by just 57 votes.
Hogg, who received the support of councillors Tek Manhas and Bruce Findlay and was the choice of a pro-business lobby in the Municipality, received 2,029 votes to Lord’s 1,962.
Lord lost the hotly contest race despite receiving the backing of the Cowichan Valley NDP machine that included the endorsement of MP Alistair McGregor. Chemainus business owner and councillor Chris Istace also declared his support for Lord.
A total of 4,866 people cast ballots in the by-election. that was necessary when Councillor Debra Toporowski resigned after winning a seat as an NDP candidate in the Oct. 2024 provincial election.
Three other candidates were in the contest to fill the vacant seat. David Bellis earned 447 votes, Johanne Kemmler 387 and Raymon Farmere 41.
Hogg will join Manhas, Findlay, Istace, Christopher Justice, Mike Caljouw, and Mayor Rob Douglas at the council table.
In Chemainus, the election of Hogg could be good news for the developer of a proposed fast food and gas station project at the intersection of Henry Road and the Trans Canada Highway. The development that will include a Tim Hortons restaurant and an A & W outlet, will be going to council after a public hearing that is expected to take place in the next month or two.
Jerry Doman, whose family has owned the property for almost 60 years, has been attempting to develop the site for more than a decade.
Councillors Istace, Manhas and Findlay have expressed strong support for the Doman project and Hogg is expected to join them in voting in favour of the controversial development.