Membertou Chief Terry Paul re-elected; Bernd Christmas fails to gain council seat

The longtime chief of Membertou First Nation, Terry Paul, has been returned to office in band elections held Wednesday, while former CEO Bernd Christmas failed in his bid to gain a seat on council.

• Bernd Christmas drawn by Membertou's new four-year election term

For the first time, the term for chief and council will be four years instead of the standard two.

Paul received 383of 675 votes cast for chief.He was challenged by Darrell Bernard and Edwin LaPorte.

"Both candidates ran impressive campaigns and they shed light on important issues that should be revisited by chief andcouncil," Paul said in a post-election statement.

Paul has been chief of Membertou for 32 years.He said he is "humbled" that voters continue to believe in him.

Twelve council members were also elected Wednesday, eight of them incumbents and four newcomers.

'That's the way it goes'

As a first-time candidate, Christmas wasphilosophical about his loss.

"That's the way it goes," he said. "What I was really happy to learn is that we've got four new councillors, and they're all young individuals.

"So us old-timers make some room for the new generation. Membertou, its demographics is a very young population and it makes sense that some new faces will be joining the government of the community."

Christmaswas band CEO for more than a decade until stepping down in 2006. During his tenure he was credited as the driving force behind the First Nation's tremendous economic growth.

He said Thursday he has not ruled out another run at politics.

"You know, there's always things you can learn and we have some time now to think about it," he said. "Four years is a relatively short period of time and when the time comes again, we'll reconsider."

Christmas has a law office in Toronto, but he saidhe has applied to Membertou band council for land to build a house in the community.