Nanaimo-Ladysmith’s school board will have a full complement of trustees once again.
Naomi Bailey won a byelection Saturday, Jan. 15, to join the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools board of education.
Bailey won in a landslide, receiving 859 votes, while the other candidate, Steve Rae, garnered 236 votes. School District 68 said the results are preliminary and will become official later this week.
Bailey said the next day that she wanted to thank everyone who voted, and said she was overwhelmed by the support she received.
“It was very thrilling, and I now know that I have a big responsibility because I have a lot of people really wanting me to work hard with the team that exists,” Bailey said.
She said she had a good feeling about how the vote would go, as she felt people recognized her experience in the education system, and she said conversations about school facilities and student supports seemed to resonate with voters during the campaign.
Bailey has already been contacted by SD68 superintendent Scott Saywell and will be meeting with school board chairperson Charlene McKay this week. Bailey expects she’ll be able to work well with the other trustees, saying that navigating relationships with people with varying perspectives is one of her strengths. There will be a lot of learning and a steep curve, she said.
“I know that budget time is right now, so I think I’ll be walking right into that, and definitely there will be a lot more learning about the role of a trustee as well as responsibilities, all those pieces,” said Bailey.
The byelection became necessary when former trustee Lisa Marie Barron resigned last fall after being elected Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP.
The SD68 trustee byelection is happening today, Jan. 15. I voted about a half hour ago at Dover Bay Secondary School; it's very easy to do, just bring 2 pieces of ID. Voting stations at Dover, Nanaimo District, Cedar and Ladysmith secondary schools will be open till 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/paP9SZBBNP
— Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin) January 16, 2022
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editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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