Stacey Gaiga’s name will remain on the ballot as a mayoral candidate even though she has withdrawn from the race.
Advance voting began at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, and Port Alberni city electoral officer Davina Sparrow had not received notice that a candidate had withdrawn.
The ballots had already been printed anyway, Sparrow said.
Sparrow has asked for advice from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development on how to proceed. Gaiga’s letter of withdrawal has also been passed on for consideration, Sparrow said, but she had not heard back before the News went to press.
“While she may be discontinuing her campaigning...she remains a candidate on the ballot and we are proceeding as normal,” she said.
At the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, where Bamfield incumbent Stephan Ochman withdrew his name after nominations closed, he pulled out soon enough that his name was not included on the ballot, ACRD electoral officer Wendy Thomson said.
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