ELECTION 2014: Meet Vernon’s new mayor, Akbal Mund

VERNON – Political newcomer Akbal Mund has done what few mayoral candidates ever succeed at: Winning a mayor's seat without ever having been a councillor.

Mund, a prominent local businessman, succeeded Mayor Rob Sawatzky, who announced in July he wouldn't seek another term. Mund, known for his involvement in local events and fundraisers, took home 3714 votes Saturday night. Runners up were Victor Cummings, with 3089 votes and Mary Jo O’Keefe with 1312 votes.

Mund was at the Kalamalka Rotary Dream Auction Saturday night when results started coming in.

“People were like, I think you’re winning,” Mund says.

He tried not to pay too much attention to social media as the numbers trickled in, preferring to wait for the final results.

“There’s a lot of excitement,” Mund says. “I don’t think it has sunk in 100 per cent yet.”

Mund, surrounded by friends and supporters at the Best Western Vernon Lodge, says he can’t wait to get started.

“I think people were looking for change. I think they saw that I was the person who could give them the change they were looking for,” Mund says.

There’s little change around the rest of the council table, with incumbent councillors Brian Quiring, Bob Spiers, Juliette Cunningham and Catherine Lord re-elected. New faces include Dalvir Nahal and Scott Anderson, neither of whom have ever served on city council. Anderson ran unsuccessfully for the role of MLA in the last provincial election.

RESULTS

MAYOR

Akbal MUND –  3714
Victor CUMMING – 3089
Mary-Jo O'KEEFE – 1312
Klaus TRIBES – 1011
Jamie MORROW – 442

COUNCILLOR

Brian QUIRING – 4275
Bob SPIERS – 4162
Juliette CUNNINGHAM – 4120
Catherine LORD – 4006
Dalvir NAHAL – 3919
Scott ANDERSON – 3805
Kari GARES – 3581
Mark OLSEN – 3514
Jack GILROY –  3451
Shawn LEE – 3271
Janet GREEN – 3027
James TODD – 1568
Colt WILSON –  1127
Arthur GOURLEY – 768

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.