The local government elections saw Clinton voters opt for an all-new mayor and council.
Preliminary results reveal first-time candidate Jim Rivett won the mayoral race with 179 votes, trumping former Coun. Daniela Dyke who garnered 133 votes.
Rivett says he is “happy” for the chance to do something for the community and to work with a “good” team.
“The four councillors have a good cross-section of experience.”
Determining priorities will first need council discussions, but he says some of his planned targets include town beautification, fiscal responsibility (cost control) and improved communications between the village office and the public.
It’s a positive thing to have an entirely new council, Rivett adds, because it will be open-minded to ideas that may have been explored before.
“If you look at the results of the election, people are looking for a change. There are no incumbents, so the message is pretty clear.”
Initially intending to run for council, Rivett notes he was persuaded by several community members to go for the top spot.
The new mayor will be sworn in at the next council meeting.
“I’m just itching to get going, but that doesn’t happen until Dec. 7.”
TNRD results
Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Area E (Bonaparte Plateau) incumbent Director Sally Watson has been re-elected, and says she is “very happy.”
Watson won with 129 votes, a wide margin over the 67 votes obtained by her opponent and former Clinton mayor Roland Stanke.
Some of the issues Watson will continue to tackle as priorities include various tourism projects and the TNRD Solid Waste Management Plan.
Product stewardship mandates for manufacturers to take on more recycling and reclamation responsibilities have changed previous cost impacts, she explains.
“That’s no longer necessarily the taxpayer’s job to pay for that.”
Watson says she wants to work together more effectively with other TNRD areas and municipalities on economic-development aspects, such as marketing the communities to industry.
The director notes will also strive toward establishing a non-profit community grazing lease east of 70 Mile House to provide common pasture lands for small farmers to promote local food production.
