Time is running out, pencils down, eyes ahead! Nominations have now closed for those hoping to get their name on the ballot for the 2022 municipal elections. As nominations closed in the Central Okanagan, 95 people put their names forward for mayor, councillor, district manager and school administrator across the region. In Kelowna, five candidates are running for mayor, incumbent Colin Bashran, who is seeking a third term, Tom Dias, who finished second four years ago, Glendon Smedley, who ran eight years ago, and newcomers David Habib and Silverado Socrates. Thirty-two people have put their names forward for one of the council’s eight seats. Six councillors, Charlie Hodge, Luke Stack, Gail Given, Maxine DeHart, Mohini Singh and Loyal Wooldridge are seeking re-election. One name not on the list is veteran councilman Brad Sieben, who decided not to run. Two-term Councilman Ryan Donn had already announced he was leaving. Some prominent names seeking a seat on the council include former councilor and MP Ron Cannan, former Global Community presenter Rick Webber and Gord Lovegrove, who just missed out on a seat in 2018. In Lake Country, longtime councilor Blair Ireland is tapped by Barry Rhodes to replace James Baker in the mayor’s chair. The Irishman resigned his seat as representative in the Okanagan Center ward to run for mayor. Rhodes finished a close second to Baker four years ago. Two incumbent council members, Cara Reed (Carr’s Landing) and Todd McKenzie (Oyama) are running unopposed and have been recognized. Two candidates are vying for the Winfield seat, including incumbent Jeremy Kozub, two are seeking to win the vacant Okanagan Center seat, while three candidates, including incumbent Bill Scarrow, are seeking the two at-large council seats. There is also a referendum question on the Lake Country ballot, “Are you in favor of authorizing the District of Lake Country to authorize a loan (Waterfront Property) Statute 1187, 2022 to authorize the borrowing of up to $8,000,000 to purchase property on the beach for community use? In West Kelowna, incumbent Mayor Gord Milson has a last-minute challenger in Peachland, Andrew Kwaczynski, who filed his papers just before the 4 p.m. deadline. There will be 13 names on the ballot for the six council seats, including the four incumbents, Stephen Johnston, Carol Zanon, Rick de Jong and Jason Friesen. The list of questioners includes former advisers Rusty Ensign and Bryden Winsbey. Two challengers are running for incumbent Mayor Cindy Fortin’s seat in Peachland. Current councilors Patrick Van Minsel and Keith Fielding took up this challenge. Three sitting MPs are among the 13 vying for six council seats. They include Mike Kent, Pam Cunningham and Terry Condon. Former councilman Keith Thom is also looking to regain a seat on the city council. Peachland voters will also have a referendum question on the ballot: “Are you in favor of adopting Protective Services Building Loan Authorization Regulation No. One hundred thousand dollars ($17,500,000), over thirty (30) years, to fund the construction of a new Protective Services Building to house the Fire Department? Both regional director positions have also been determined. Newcomer Kevin Kraft has been recognized in Central Okanagan East, while incumbent Wayne Carson is running unopposed in Central Okanagan West. There are also 14 candidates for Central Okanagan school board seats. Click here to see the list of candidates running in all jurisdictions. All candidates have until next Friday at 4pm to remove their name from consideration before the vote becomes official. Voters head to the polls on Saturday, October 15.
