2026 Municipal Election: Meet the Granisle mayoral candidates

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

The Municipal Election will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17.

My Bulkley Lakes Now reached out to each candidate running for Mayor in Granisle for their responses to the following five questions:

1. Can you provide a brief bio of yourself?
2. Why are you running for mayor of Granisle, and what makes you the best candidate for the position?
3. What are the most important issues in Granisle and how do you plan to address them?
4. What is your vision for Granisle over the next four years?
5. Are there any final thoughts on any topic that you would like to share?

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (Last Name):

Blane Maughan:

My Bulkley Lakes Now reached out to Blane Maughan but did not receive a response before publication.

Linda McGuire (Incumbent):

I have lived in Granisle for 40 years and had the privilege of serving on Council for 25 years. I was first elected in 1989 and served until 1999 when I stepped back from politics to work in the remote Kemess mine in the Administration department. With the 2011 elections, community members asked me to return to the political arena, and I have been honored to continue to serve the past 15 years.

Selina Pechlaner:

My name is Selina Pechlaner, I am an economic developer and business owner here in northern BC. I live
in Granisle and I am running for Mayor. I have a Bachelors from UBC, and a Master of Science from the
University of Leipzig in Germany. I split my time between Europe and Northern BC, and I really enjoy
bridging academic spaces, international conversations, and rural development.

Governments have to make decisions all the time about what’s in the best interests of the community. I
enjoy helping make that an easier conversation for everyone to feel heard. I like bringing City Hall out into
the community to connect with residents in the spaces, events, and day to day situations that they want to
discuss with their staff and elected officials.

Tod Roebuck:

My Bulkley Lakes Now reached out to Tod Roebuck but did not receive a response before publication.

2. Why are you running for mayor of Granisle, and what makes you the best candidate for the position?

Linda McGuire:

I am passionate for Granisle and want to see the long-term sustainability foundation Council has worked so hard for to continue to move forward. With the number of years serving and building relationships during that time with regional, provincial, and federal governments, I feel I can still respectfully contribute to continuing to move Granisle forward.

Selina Pechlaner:

I love my community, I chose it. We need a mayor and I am stepping up so we can set up good systems,
raise standards, and build healthy communication. Granisle is small but we are capable of being a
beautiful destination and meaningful participant in the success of our region.

To do that, we need a fresh government. A government that handles the basics and prioritizes the
community. I am a strong proponent of healthy workplaces, ethical governance, and government as a
positive partner in community development.

3. What are the most important issues in Granisle and how do you plan to address them?

Linda McGuire:

We continue working with the provincial health authorities to move us beyond the current “Do not Consume” order we are on with our water. We are working collectively with other municipalities and regional districts to a renewal of the Resource Benefit Alliance (RBA) funding which will secure reliable, sustainable funding. We need to plan for infrastructure replacement, distribution lines, water tower, on-going pavement projects on our streets, etc.

We continue to advocate for a return of doctor services to our community and remain hopeful with the increase of doctors to Burns Lake, we will see a willingness for doctor outreach to occur, once the new doctors get settled in.

Selina Pechlaner:

Like other rural northern communities, Granisle has challenges with roads, pipes, aging infrastructure,
and derelict buildings. But our most urgent issue is our tap water.

Granisle has already dealt with unsafe aluminum levels in treated water. Currently we are dealing with
trihalomethanes, which are linked to long-term cancer risk. That is not complaining. That is public health.

This election is about more than who chairs a council meeting or represents Granisle at events. We are
choosing leaders who will help determine whether residents have water that is safe to bathe our children
in.

I am not prepared to wait for cancer diagnoses before our water is treated like the emergency it is.

Council does not run the water plant day to day, but elected officials cannot take a hands-off approach.
We need to support our operators, bring in qualified public works expertise, communicate clearly with
residents, and make real changes immediately.

4. What is your vision for Granisle over the next four years?

Linda McGuire:

With the recent remediation of the north section of our mall, it will provide an opportunity to market and encourage business in this new commercial space. Would like to see our new Seniors Housing facility full to capacity. Discussions will need to begin on uses and ideas for the South section of the mall, as funding becomes available.

With both federal and provincial governments giving priority to major projects, it is important for local governments and First Nations to be at the table to ensure the grassroots impacts are heard, including adequate infrastructure and housing are available.

Selina Pechlaner:

Over the next four years, I want Granisle to become more practical, more connected, and more creative
about how we serve residents.

I want people to feel secure in the basics: safe water, reliable services, and a local government that
listens. After everything our community has been through, we need to rebuild trust and give people
reasons to feel hopeful about our future.

We have a strong foundation. Our municipal assets can support local businesses, attract visitors, and
give residents more opportunities to enjoy life here. Grants are a bridge, not a road. They should help us
build local capacity and long-term self-sufficiency.

One idea I am excited about and I see a community appetite for is a Granisle Public Market, where
neighbours can gather, local businesses can grow, and our artisans can share their work. Our lake also
gives us wonderful opportunities for tourism, recreation, and community events.

Above all, I want residents to feel included in shaping Granisle’s future. That means stronger
communication, bringing local government out into the community, and real engagement before decisions
are made. The greatest impact I hope to make is a return of mutual respect between our community and
our local government.

5. Are there any final thoughts on any topic that you would like to share?

Linda McGuire:

We continue to strongly advocate for the RCMP members to return and live in the RCMP housing in Granisle. Along with utilizing the RCMP detachment. We are looking at a trail system development between the Granisle marina and Topley Landing.

Selina Pechlaner:

My final thought is that Granisle does not belong to a small circle of people. It belongs to the community.
One of my priorities is restoring the line between personal interests and public decision-making. Local
government should never be a tool for personal power. It should be a public system that serves the whole
community.

I do not want anyone in Granisle, or any rural community, to believe this is as good as it gets. At the end
of the day, most of us want the same basic things: the ability to safely bathe in the water you pay for, the
ability to get gas or evacuate in a wildfire, and a government that follows the rules meant to keep people
safe.

Through partnership with residents, local businesses, industry, First Nations, and other levels of
government, I believe Granisle can become a healthy, happy, and thriving community once again.

Editor’s Note: My Bulkley Lakes Now would like to thank the two candidates for taking the time to respond to our questions. Reading their responses should better prepare each voter for the candidate of their choice.

Voting stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Granisle Village Office.

Results will be posted on this website on election night.