Kevin Pearson elected Sooke mayor as five new faces join council

Sooke will have a new mayor and a largely new council following Saturday’s municipal election, with longtime councillor Kevin Pearson winning the race to replace outgoing mayor Maja Tait.

Pearson received 3,140 votes (57.6%), defeating fellow councillor Al Beddows, who received 2,307 votes (42.4%).

The race was decided by 833 votes.

Pearson is no stranger to Sooke politics, having previously been elected to council in 2011, 2014 and 2022.

Born and raised in Sooke, Pearson has also spent more than 35 years working for Canada Post and has been involved in local sports and community organizations.

He will replace Tait, who decided not to seek another term after serving as mayor since 2014.

While a new mayor was guaranteed regardless of Saturday’s outcome, voters also delivered significant changes around the council table.

Of the 16 candidates competing for six council seats, only one incumbent was re-elected.

The following councillors were elected:

• Herb Haldane — 2,688 votes (re-elected)
• Rob Pearce — 2,321 votes (new)
• Katherine Strongwind — 2,301 votes (new)
• Janet Evans — 2,290 votes (new)
• Curtis Peterec — 2,226 votes (new)
• Elliott Lifton — 2,177 votes (new)

Haldane topped the council race, continuing his time at municipal hall after winning a byelection in July 2025.

The election also marked a significant result for the Sooke First electoral organization.

Pearson ran under the Sooke First banner, alongside council candidates Haldane, Pearce, Evans, Peterec and Lifton, all of whom were elected. Together, they will hold the mayor’s chair and five of six council seats.

Meanwhile, incumbent councillor Tony St-Pierre was unsuccessful in his re-election bid.

St-Pierre’s defeat leaves Haldane as the only returning councillor. Another particularly close result came in the race for the final council seat.

Elliott Lifton secured sixth place with 2,177 votes, just five votes ahead of Helen Ritts, who finished seventh with 2,172 votes.

Sooke’s new council will have several major issues ahead, including housing affordability, infrastructure, transportation, municipal spending and managing growth.

Pearson and the newly elected council will serve for the next four years.

The results are preliminary and remain subject to official confirmation.