Luck of the draw: Cindy Fortin remains Peachland's mayor after name picked out of a box after tie vote
Fortin's name was drawn after a judicial recounted ended with her and challenger Harry Gough still tied
Cindy Fortin was re-elected mayor of Peachland, B.C. on Monday, after her name was picked out of a box following a judicial recount that ended with a tie vote.
Fortin and challenger Harry Gough remained tied with 804 votes apiece following the manual count of 2,348 ballots, overseen by provincial court Judge Ellen Burdett.
Their names were then written on pieces of paper and placed in a green wooden box, with the winner decided by a draw, according to the process laid out in provincial legislation.
"Congratulations," said Gough to Fortin immediately after her name was announced.
"Sorry Harry," replied Fortin as they shook hands.
"That's alright, that's fine, that's the rule of law," he said.
Cindy Fortin is declared mayor of Peachland over Harry Gough after it came down to a drawing of lots! Here’s the dramatic moment. Harry Gough accepted defeat gracefully. <a href="https://t.co/AjuSRGoyfA">pic.twitter.com/AjuSRGoyfA</a>
—@BradyStrachanIn a Facebook post on Sunday, Fortin said she hoped the Okanagan community of 5,500 people would come together after the result, regardless of who won.
"We will always have difference of opinions and ideas, but that can be a good thing. That's how we learn from one another," she wrote.
"No matter how it plays out, I hope the first thing the new mayor will do is work on bringing this community together and mending the divisions within the citizens of Peachland."
With files from Brady Strachan