The next four years of local leaders will be decided today, Oct. 15, as the Nelson 2022 municipal election gets underway.
Polls are open in Nelson and in RDCK areas E and G from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
In Nelson, incumbent mayor John Dooley is up against three-term councillor Janice Morrison as well as Tom Prior, John Buffery, and Mike Zeabin.
For the six-member council, incumbent councillors Jesse Woodward, Rik Logtenberg and Keith Page are running against newcomers Ainsleah Hastings, Leslie Payne, Jesse Pineiro, Brenton Raby, Glen Sutherland, Kate Tait, and Kyle Wilkinson.
Nelson voters will also cast ballots for two School District 8 trustees. The candidates are Tricia Braun, Julie Bremner, Lesley Garlow, Kathy Krulitsky, Murray Shunter and Tamara Ziemer.
In Nelson, the voting place is the Prestige Lakeside Resort on Lakeside Drive.
The city is also offering off-site voting at Lake View Village (9:30 to 11:30 a.m.), Kootenay Lake Hospital (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.), Nelson Jubilee Manor (2 to 2:30 p.m.) and Mountain Lake Seniors Community (3 to 4:30 p.m.).
Residents of Area E of the Regional District of Central Kootenay have four candidates to choose from: Reggie Goldsbury, Cheryl Graham, Dan Rye, and Landon Veregin.
Area E voting will take place at four locations: Balfour Seniors Hall, Procter Community Hall, Blewett Elementary School, and the RDCK office on Lakeside Drive in Nelson.
The candidates for director in Area G are Anna Bundshuh, incumbent Hans Cunningham, and Farrell Seagall.
Voting locations in Area G are the Salmo Community Centre and the Ymir Community Hall.
In both RDCK locations, voting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
After 8 p.m., election officials will begin counting the ballots and the results are expected bo be known shortly after 8:30.
The Nelson Star will report the results as soon as they are available on our website and on our Facebook and Instagram pages.