The winner of this B.C. school trustee race was decided by random draw

There is a tie between two candidates for school trustee in Kamloops. Photo by Francis Georgian /PNG

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A two-way tie for a trustee seat in the Kamloops-Thompson school district ended up in a courtroom for a recount and, eventually, a random draw that resembled pulling a name out of a hat.

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Incumbent Shelley Sim was declared the winner by court order in Kamloops provincial court, according to rules set out by the Local Government Act in the case of a deadlock in an election.

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After the Oct. 17 municipal election, Sim and her lone challenger for the seat, Lee Onslow, ended up tied with 337 votes each. After the judicial recount, a judge issued a succinct decision: “Order made that Shelley Sim has won the election by virtue of a drawing of a lot.”

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The immediate reaction by Sim — who said she loves public service (“There’s no sweeter blessing”) — was not what you’d expect.

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“Oh, I thought the universe would have come up with a different result,” Sim said by phone after being informed by a reporter of her win Wednesday morning.

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Sim, who has held that school trustee position and a Clearwater city council seat for the past four terms, was elected mayor of Clearwater this year.

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“I struggle with the idea of holding too much power,” she said. “I feel that power should be shared.”

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“I really wanted Lee to be the one who won. As the incumbent, a tie doesn’t seem like a win.”

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Sim was in a quandary after hearing she won what was essentially a coin toss. In comments before she learned of her win, Sim called Onslow “so lovely. I would be delighted to have someone as qualified as her taking over.”

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Sim had won by three votes, calling it “my landslide,” after the initial count on election night. Onslow, understandably, requested a recount.

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After the tie was announced, Sim said she considered conceding but was told it required ministerial approval once the new provincial government is sworn in.

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She said the decision of whether or not to continue to serve as trustee is “so difficult” because she knows and admires Onslow but says she has a duty to respect those in the riding who voted for her.

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“I love democracy so much and I want to respect that,” she said, before adding she would take some time to consult others before making any further comment.

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“There’s ethics and there’s loyalties and the democratic process,” said Sim. “To quote Ted Lasso,” she said, referring to popular fictional soccer coach who is endlessly upbeat and kind-hearted: “When is doing the right thing not the right thing?”

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A text later in the day said she learned that conceding would mean a byelection would need to be called.

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“After our communities have already been through two election cycles, I don’t believe asking people to go through another election process,” she said in an email. “This would be costly and disruptive.”