The Chair of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) has announced she will be seeking re-election in the Oct. 20 municipal election.
However, it appears there will be at least eight new faces on the Board following the election as several incumbents are stepping down and a handful of newcomers are stepping in to take a run at elected office.
The deadline for anyone considering running for elected office in next months municipal election is this Friday, Sept. 14 at 4 p.m.
Karla Kosakevich, who represents Area E in Naramata, officially filed her nomination papers late last week confirming she will be seeking re-election.
No matter what happens in just over six weeks, there will be several new faces on the Board, which features 19 members.
Veteran Electoral C (rural Oliver) director Terry Schafer has announced he will be stepping down, as has former local MP and longtime Area D director Tom Siddon.
Rick Knodel, who lives in Willowbrook and has been an “alternate” in Area C by assisting Schafer in his duties, is the only person to file nomination papers to replace Schafer as of Monday morning.
In Area D, former RDOS Board director Bill Schwarz has filed his nomination papers. Ron Oberik, a longtime member of the Area D Advisory Planning Council, is, according to sources, expected to file his nomination papers before Friday’s deadline.
As of Monday morning, Area F incumbent Michael Brydon had not filed his nomination papers and he recently posted on Facebook that he was not intending to run again however, he has changed his mind at the last minute in the past.
Mark Pendergraft, who was the Board Chair for several years before Kosakevich was voted into the position, will be seeking re-election and is the only candidate to file nomination papers in Electoral Area A (rural Osoyoos).
George Bush, incumbent in Electoral Area B (Cawston) is the only candidate to file his nomination papers as of Monday morning.
Roger Mayer, incumbent in Electoral Area G (Keremeos, rural Hedley) had not filed nomination papers as of Monday, but is expected to run again. Veteran Area G Board member Elef Christensen passed away while out for a walk in late June.
Robert Coyne, incumbent in Electoral Area H (rural Princeton) is the only candidate to file nomination papers as of Monday morning.
Political newcomer Subrina Monteith confirmed Monday she has filed nomination papers to the newly-formed Electoral Area I, representing residents in Kaleden, Twin Lakes and St. Andrew's. She is the only person to file papers and would be acclaimed if no one else steps forward.
City of Penticton Coun. Helena Konanz is stepping away from municipal politics and will be running as the Conservative Party candidate in the riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay (SOWK) in the 2019 fall federal election.
Judy Sentes is running again for a seat on Penticton Council and would likely maintain her position on the RDOS Board if re-elected.
Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit is seeking re-election and is being challenged by well-known local business owners Jason Cox and John Vassilaki.
Veteran Penticton Coun. Andre Martin has announced he is not running again, which will open up another seat on the RDOS Board.
Longtime Summerland Mayor Peter Waterman has also announced he is retiring from municipal politics.
Summerland Coun. Toni Boot announced early this summer she will be seeking to replace Waterman. She will be opposed by Coun. Janet Peake, who announced late last week her intentions to become mayor.
The winner of that race will automatically become an RDOS Board member.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes found out last week he’s being challenged by senior management professional Martin Johansen. The winner of that race will also become an RDOS Board member.
Incumbent Princeton Mayor Frank Armitage is facing two challengers in the election and the winner of that race will also become an RDOS Board member.
Manfred Bauer, the current RDOS vice-chair and longtime Mayor of Keremeos, is expected to be acclaimed and keep his position on the RDOS Board.
Incumbent Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff has announced she will be seeking re-election and would also maintain her position on the RDOS Board.
The only challenger to file nomination papers is Doug Pederson, a fringe candidate who has run for elected office on numerous occasions, never generating more than a handful of votes.
