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Forsyth loses bid for UBCM seat

Whistler Councillor Ralph Forsyth lost his bid for director at large for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

Whistler Councillor Ralph Forsyth lost his bid for director at large for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

Forsyth was one of seven local government representatives vying for five spots on the UBCM executive committee, which debates and decides which issues will be included at upcoming conferences.

"When people asked me why I'm running, I said it's because I want to turn my eye to the committees I want to serve," he told the 600-plus delegates in a speech last Thursday.

The new directors at large for 2010-2011 are: Mission
 Mayor James Atebe, Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz, Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk, Prince George Councillor Murry Krause and Tumbler Ridge Councillor Jerrilyn Schembri.

Barbara Steele, a Surrey councillor, is the new president of the UBCM. Steele, who served on the UBCM executive for the past four years, succeeds Harry Nyce, a Nisga'a Hereditary Chief and Kitimat-Stikine Regional District Chair.

Also elected were first vice president Heath Slee, a director for the East Kootenay Regional District; second vice president Mary Sjostrom, mayor of Quesnel; third vice president Rhona Martin, a Columbia Shuswap Regional District director; small community representative Galina Durant, a councillor in Stewart; and electoral area representative Al Richmond of the Cariboo Regional District.