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council
Vernon voters welcome cultural diversity to city hall
"THIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A FEAT" VERNON - Vernon’s rich cultural diversity is being reflected and celebrated on the community’s new city council. In the 2014 civic election, voters elected Akbal Mund for mayor and Dalvir Nahal for city councillor, making them the first individuals of South Asian heritage to sit on Vernon city council....
Outgoing council has tearful goodbye at last council meeting
PENTICTON - There were tears around the council table during the meeting Monday night as goodbye speeches were made by three outgoing members, all of whom have served Penticton for nearly a decade. Coun. John Vassilaki, who has been a councillor for twelve consecutive years, went first, listing council’s accomplishments over the years and giving...
What would happen if the Vernon vote was left up to high school students
VERNON - Vernon’s newly elected council would look a bit different if left up to a group of high school students. According to Student Vote—a province-wide program giving youth under the voting age a chance to learn about democracy and voting—Vernon Secondary School students had some different ideas about who should sit on council. The...
ELECTION 2014: Who won in the South Okanagan
SOUTH OKANAGAN - You voted and the results are in for the mayors and councils of the South Okanagan who will start their four-year terms in December. Summerland welcomes new mayor Peter Waterman, who won with 1,197 votes. Joining him on council is Toni Boot with 2,819 votes; Erin Trainer with 2,214 votes; Erin Carlson...
ELECTION 2014: North Okanagan voters elect new councils, school trustees and regional district reps
WHO WON IN VERNON, ARMSTRONG, SPALLUMCHEEN, COLDSTREAM, ENDERBY AND SALMON ARM NORTH OKANAGAN - Voters have chosen new councils, school trustees and regional district representatives. In Vernon, voters kept four councillors, welcomed in two new ones, and chose a new face to represent them as mayor. Political newcomer Akbal Mund is Vernon's new mayor. There's been...
ELECTION 2014: Jakubeit new mayor of Penticton
PENTICTON - The votes are in and Andrew Jakubeit is the new mayor of Penticton, beating out former councillor and colleague John Vassilaki and local businessman Jukka Laurio. Jakubeit won by more than 2,000 votes with a total of 5,126 votes. “I just want to say thank you,” he said after the win. “The whole...
ELECTIONS 2014: Vernon voters have their say
VERNON - Local residents are having their say on who they want as city mayors, councillors, school trustees and regional district representatives. Many voters have already cast their ballots. Over the three days of advance voting, a total of 1,957 people cast their votes, up several hundred from the 2011 election. Those numbers suggest Vernon...
West Kelowna candidates forum tonight
WEST KELOWNA – On the day advanced voting opens across the valley, candidates for mayor, councillor and school trustee will be at Constable Neil Bruce Middle School in West Kelowna Wednesday night for the first all candidates forum. The three part forum, organized by the Westside Board of Trade, starts with candidates for council at 6:30...
Complementary enterprise pitched for Vernon visitor centre
VERNON - A local politician wants to bring Vernon’s arts and culture to a main pit stop on any tourist’s jaunt through town. Expressions of interest are being accepted for a vacant section of the new visitor centre on 39 Avenue, and City of Vernon councillor Mary-Jo O’Keefe sees it as an opportunity. “I would...
Taxpayers First slate has plans for the Central Okanagan Regional District
KELOWNA – The slate of five council hopefuls known as Taxpayers First have unveiled a plan that, if elected, would put a massive, multi-storey commercial/residential building on the current Regional District lot on KLO Road as part of a restructuring plan. Taxpayers First, made up of Carol Gran, Graham James, Dale Olson, Michael Gorman and...
Get your questions ready for the mayoral candidate forum
PENTICTON - Mayoral candidates will take the stage this week to discuss their goals and answer citizens’ questions at a public forum. The forum, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Penticton Herald, will be held on Thursday Oct. 30, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Resort. Each candidate will...
Local golf courses plead with city over escalating water rates
VERNON - Local golf courses are pleading with the City of Vernon for a break on escalating water rates, calling this the most challenging time the industry has ever faced. Four local golf courses—Predator Ridge, The Rise, Vernon Golf & Country Club and Hillview Golf—told Vernon council they are paying inordinate fees compared to other...
Citizens organize forum to educate community on Penticton election issues
PENTICTON - Local citizens are taking the election campaign into their own hands and educating themselves about the candidates and the issues in the upcoming civic vote. Members the community Facebook group Educate Encourage Empower Penticton have organized two candidate forums; one for the candidates for council and one for mayoral candidates. Candidates must RSVP...
A little less housing but more happy residents for Scott Avenue
PENTICTON - The residents of Scott Avenue can breathe a sigh of relief knowing an undesired rental property will not be built on their street. Council made a decision this week to nix a plan that’s been in the works for over two years. A third public hearing was held at City Hall Monday night...
Upcoming election forums are your chance to meet the candidates
KELOWNA – As the election draws near, several groups and organizations have candidate forums planned where residents will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of those running for council, mayor and school trustee. The first forum is for mayoral candidates only and is organized by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. Participating candidates will...
Given to run for council, not mayor
KELOWNA – First term councillor Gail Given, who has hinted in the past she was considering running for mayor next month, will instead seek to keep her seat on council. Given, who has lived in Kelowna more than 30 years, says with the majority of the councillors leaving she wanted to ensure there will be...
ELECTIONS 2014: Your Vernon candidates
VERNON - Nominations for the upcoming municipal election officially closed at 4 p.m. Friday, leaving the following candidates vying for seats. Five are running for mayor of Vernon: Victor Cumming, Jamie Morrow, Akbal Mund, Mary-Jo O’Keefe, and Klaus Tribes. The 14 who tossed their hat in for one of the City of Vernon’s six councillor...
ELECTION 2014: West Kelowna candidates finalized
WEST KELOWNA – Three candidates are confirmed for mayor of West Kelowna, including incumbent Doug Findlater. Challenging Findlater for his job are Stephen Johnston and Mary Mandarino. The nomination period for the Nov. 14 civic election closed at 4 p.m. on Friday. Thirteen people are seeking one of six seats on council: - Joanne Baker -...
Litke still has a few tricks up his sleeve
PENTICTON - With two months left in office, Mayor Garry Litke hopes to accomplish a few more things before he walks out the doors of City Hall for good. Before he became mayor, Litke was a city councillor for eight years. Being a part of the team that created the South Okanagan Events Centre was...
DeHart to seek second term on council
KELOWNA – Another councillor has announced she will be on the ballot again this November. Maxine DeHart is the third and most recent sitting councillor to declare her intentions to run as an incumbent in the municipal election next month. In a media release, DeHart says she will focus her campaign on continuing the work...
Council candidate hopes to revitalize downtown core
KAMLOOPS – Small-business owner Tanja Hasler is tossing her hat in the political ring. “This is how I would like to contribute to the City of Kamloops,” she says, adding she would like to see some new faces on council to bring fresh input for the City. If elected, the pet-groomer hopes to improve fiscal...
2003 firestorm hero enters council race
KELOWNA – The woman who coordinated the evacuation of thousands of residents during the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire is running for a seat on council. Beryl Itani, 76, was the Emergency Social Services director for the Central Okanagan for 30 years. She retired in 2011. According to the City of Kelowna website, Itani has...
ARCHER: Facebook can make or break a politician
It’s no secret that during an election, a candidate's skeletons can be pulled out from the closet and displayed in the light for all to see. It’s happened on all levels of government, and makes a juicy plot twist for Hollywood movies and HBO shows. But it’s hard to think it could happen to you.
Konanz runs to keep her seat
PENTICTON - Helena Konanz says she wants to continue to improve Penticton’s economy and culture by continuing her reign on city council. "My portfolio for the past three years has been towards economic development and job creation, and I would like to continue to advocate for the business and manufacturing sector of our city for...