Our Electoral Team

Current leadership, decades of experience and practical support for First Nations across British Columbia.

Stephen Bakerman is a Certified Electoral Officer and the principal of S.E. Bakerman Electoral Services. Fred Schiffner began mentoring him in 2021. Stephen started working elections with Fred and Fran in 2022.

Stephen was certified through Indigenous Services Canada in February 2024 under the Indian Band Election Regulations and the First Nations Elections Act. He has worked on about 10 elections, nomination meetings and related projects involving about 12 First Nations in British Columbia.

He has run two complete elections with mentorship available. His work covered contracting, preparation, ballots, mailouts, polling, counting, results and final records. He has also run a remote poll from setup through ballot count and has helped draft, review and amend Custom Election Codes.

Stephen also has more than 30 years of Information Technology experience. His work with legal firms and other organizations required strong policies, secure information, accurate records and consistent procedures.

Fred Schiffner was the first contracted Electoral Officer in British Columbia. He began this work while serving as CEO of Tsawwassen First Nation. At that time, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada hired him to conduct elections for First Nations.

The federal government later moved election administration to independent contractors. Fred became the first of these contractors in BC. As the work grew, he left his CEO position and made electoral services his main profession.

Fred has experience with election planning, nomination meetings, voter information, mailouts, polling, counting, records, federal election rules and Custom Election Codes. He began mentoring Stephen in 2021 and still provides guidance and hands-on support when needed.

Fran Schiffner has 30 years of experience as an Electoral Officer under the Indian Band Election Regulations. She has also been qualified under the First Nations Elections Act since 2015.

Her work includes election planning, nomination meetings, records, mail-in ballots, polling and ballot counting. She understands the many details needed for a fair and orderly election.

Fran has helped mentor Stephen and share the practical knowledge she gained over decades of work. She remains active with SE Bakerman Electoral Services and provides guidance and hands-on support when needed.

Tanya Whalen has served as a Deputy Electoral Officer since 2024. She has worked on three elections and three nomination meetings under Custom Election Codes, the Indian Act and the First Nations Elections Act.

Her duties include voter check-in, voter questions, ballot issuing, mail-in ballots, nomination procedures, candidate communication, counting, reconciliation and records. She also helps prepare mailouts, ballots, signs, ballot packages and master voter lists.

Tanya is careful, professional and discreet. She checks facts, notices small errors and raises concerns at the right time. She has built a strong working knowledge of federal election rules and plans to complete Electoral Officer certification when Indigenous Services Canada offers the training.

Tanya has also worked as an Education Assistant for more than 20 years. That role requires patience, confidentiality and calm communication. These skills help her work respectfully with voters, candidates and the Nation while under the Electoral Officer's guidance.

Talk with Stephen about the Nation's timeline, election rules and support needs.