Tom Newell narrowly defeats Kevin LePape in RDCK Area F election; Ramona Faust back in Area E
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Retired teacher Tom Newell is stepping into politics as the new Area F director in the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
Newell, who replaces retired Area F director Ron Mickel, defeated Kevin LePape in Area F election Saturday.
Newell, who was president of the Nelson and District Teacher’s Association before retiring from teaching, edged LePape 475-387.
Ramona Faust fought off a tough challenge from Rick Marken to maintain a seat at the RDCK Board table, edging out the challenger 692-440 in Area E (Blewett, Balfour, Harrrop).
In Area G (rural Salmo), Hans Cunningham had an easy time returning to the RDCK Board as he blasted Werner Kraus 218-24.
Cunningham, the former chair of the RDCK, has served as director since 1986.
In Area D (rural Kaslo), Aimee Watson won the right to replace Andy Shadrack by defeating Donna Cormie 463-125.
In School Board elections, Lenora Trenaman defeated Jessie Gow 823-447 to capture the trustee seat in the North Shore, Crawford Bay and East Shore Electoral area.
The RDCK referendum for a Local Conservation Fund in Areas A, D and E narrowly passed by an unofficial 1128 to 1042 vote.
The question, needing a majority of “yes” votes for the bylaw to be enacted, asked whether voters are in favour of the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) adopting a bylaw that will establish the local Conservation Fund in Areas A, D and E and requisition up to $106, 500 – or $0.062 per $1000 of taxable assessed value of land and improvements – to be collected by an annual parcel tax.
In Riondel, a referendum on the borrowing money for a Community Centre was soundly defeated, 116 to 31.
