Seven rural electoral areas of the Regional District of Central Kootenay will see election races this fall, while four others only have one candidate, who have been elected by acclamation.
The races are in Area B (Rural Creston) between incumbent alternate Tanya Wall and Jared LeBlanc; Area D (Rural Kaslo) between incumbent alternate Aimee Watson and former Kaslo councillor Donna Cormie; Area E (Rural Nelson) between incumbent Ramona Faust and Rick Marken; Area F (Rural Nelson) between Kevin LePape and Tom Newell; Area G (Rural Salmo) between Hans Cunningham and Werner Kraus; Area J (Lower Arrow-Columbia) between incumbent Gord Zaitsoff and Rick Smith; Area K (Arrow Lakes) between incumbent Paul Peterson and Deborah McAuley.
The uncontested directors are Garry Jackman (Area A – East Shore), Larry Binks (Area C – Rural Creston), Walter Popoff (Area H – Slocan Valley), and Andy Davidoff (Area I – Rural Castlegar).
Incumbent Area B director and board chair John Kettle is not seeking re-election. Neither is incumbent Area D director Andy Shadrack nor Area F director Ron Mickel.
Several areas will also have referendum questions on the ballot. Riondel residents are being asked whether they favour borrowing up to $1.2 million to renovate the community centre.
Residents of Areas A, D, and E will be asked whether they support establishing a conservation fund, which would raise up to $106,500 per year through a parcel tax.
And Area C residents vote on establishing a West Creston fire protection area, to cost up to $117,700 per year, as well as borrowing $450,000 for a new hall and fixtures.