The results for the District of Kent civic election came in just minutes after 8 p.m. Saturday, thanks to the new electronic polling station.
Three of the District of Kent’s incumbent councillors, and the current mayor, all attended the local fire department’s annul awards ceremony Saturday night. At about 8:15, Kent’s CAO Wallace Mah received a phone call and began rapidly writing down numbers. Those at his table watched intently as the numbers came in, including incumbent mayor and council candidate Lorne Fisher, and John Van Laerhoven, who won the mayoral seat by acclamation.
Incumbent councilor Darcy Striker earned 695 votes. Newcomer Duane Post came in second with 637 votes. Incumbent Holger Schwichtenberg received 602 votes. Current mayor Lorne Fisher ran for council and was fourth with 477 votes.
District of Kent comprises four council seats, and six were running for election. Incumbent councillor Ken Schwaerzle earned 418 votes and newcomer Bill Crouch earned 258.
Defeated mayor
In Harrison Hot Springs, Mayor Ken Becotte was surrounded by supporters at Muddy Waters Cafe following Saturday night’s election, along with a slate of candidates who had campaigned together.
The slate included Becotte, incumbent councilors Dave Kenyon and Dave Harris and newcomers Sonja-Reyerse Peters and Richard Shelley. But it was Peters and Shelley who won seats in this election, while the veteran politicians lost their seats.
Former mayor Leo Facio ran again, and won with 304 votes. Former mayor John Allen earned 181 votes and Becotte earned 158. The two other candidates ran for mayor, Leslie Ghezesan (24 votes) and Arnold Caruk (20 votes).
Nine people ran for Harrison’s four council seats, and only one incumbent councilor, Allan Jackson, won his seat back. Jackson topped the polls with 345 votes.
Zoltan Kiss came second with 302 votes. Peters was a close third with 298 votes, and Richard Shelley was fourth in the polls with 284 votes.
Other candidates numbers were: Andrew Baziuk, 269; incumbent Bob Perry, 261; Dave Harris, 237; Dave Kenyon, 205 and Niek de Brouwer, 205.
The official swearing in ceremonies for the District of Kent and Harrison will each be held on December 5.
