DYAS WINS: Kelowna’s going to have a new mayor

Tom Dyas has unseated Colin Basran and will be Kelowna's new mayor.

With all polls reporting, Dyas took 61% of the vote (21,110 votes) in a five-candidate race. His nearest competitor — Basran — took just 31% (10,821).

This will be Dyas's first time in political office, having never served as councillor. 

It was second time lucky for Dyas, who was handily defeated by Basran four years ago. In 2018, Dyas collected just under 30% of the vote in losing to Basran. That was Dyas's first time running for office.

His victory brings to an end Basran's 11 years on city council. He was first elected as a councillor in 2011 then as mayor in 2014.

Meanwhile, some new faces will be at the council table. Former CHBC news anchor Rick Webber and UBCO Engineering professor Gord Lovegrove, haved locked in their seats and former MP Ron Cannan returns to the council table where he started his political career. He topped the polls, followed by Loyal Wooldridge, Webber, Lovegrove, Mohini Singh, Luke Stack, Charlie Hodge and finally Maxine DeHart.

On the outside with Basran looking in is Gail Given, the only other incumbent to miss. She finished tenth, ending 14 years in office as either a councillor or school board trustee. 

Three other candidates were in the mayor’s race this year. See the final results here. 

Dyas is a former Kelowna Chamber of Commerce president who ran on a platform that included cracking down on crime and listening to Kelowna residents.

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