POUCE COUPE, BC -- The former mayor of Pouce Coupe is petitioning the BC Supreme Court to overturn the results of the last municipal election and have herself reinstated as mayor.

Lorraine Michetti lost the mayoral race last month to Danielle Veach. Michetti is now taking the current mayor of Pouce Coupe to court.

On September 18, during the municipal election, Veach held a “Tea and Talk” meet and greet event for voters. She provided free cinnamon buns, tea, and coffee, for those who attended to listen to her speech and ask questions.

In a petition filed with the BC Supreme Court, Michetti claims this event constitutes buying votes.

Elections BC’s campaign rules state that there is nothing illegal about Veach’s event unless those costs were not reported.

Michetti’s petition also claims Veach made “false statements about her character and trustworthiness.”

None of these allegations have been proven in a court of law.

Matthew Voell, Veach’s lawyer, said “My client disagrees with the assertions, and will vigorously defend the allegations.”

Michetti had a controversial term in office. Last February, village council voted to remove her from all committees and boards after she compared gun owners to Holocaust victims on social media. They also requested her resignation, but she refused to step down. Michetti also made controversial comments about how Indigenous people maintain their homes.

Michetti was restored to her responsibilities by the Supreme Court six months later. She attracted controversy again in September, when she suggested the media was lying about the number of people in hospital with COVID-19. BC’s Health Minister Adrian Dix denounced her comments.

In October 2021, Danielle Veach was sworn in as a councillor after being elected in a by-election. Veach then put forward a motion to remove Michetti from her duties for a second time. The motion passed, but Michetti was again restored to her duties by the Supreme Court in March 2022.

Veach defeated Michetti in the Pouce Coupe mayoral race by just five votes. 

This is a developing story.