The new board of the Regional District of Central Kootenay was sworn in during the inaugural meeting this week at the Nelson boardroom.
Judge Richard Hewson presided over the ceremony, which had 20 electoral area and municipal directors taking their oath of office as a group, each person with a Bible to swear upon.
Judge Hewson addressed the board. “As a citizen of Nelson I would like to thank you for your engagement in politics of the region. We couldn’t live in a place as nice as we have if we didn’t have people like you that are willing to step forward to put your name up for election and, following the election, agree to serve the rest of the community. I really appreciate what you do, each and every one of you, for the entire region.”
Once the board had taken their oath, their first point of business was to elect a new board chair and vice-chair. In a secret ballot, Nakusp municipal director Karen Hamling was elected as the first female chair in the 49 years of the board's history. Castlegar municipal director Lawrence Chernoff was re-elected for another term as vice chair.
Electoral Area Directors:
Area A (East Shore)-Garry Jackman
Area B (Rural Creston)-Tanya Wall
Area C (Rural Creston)-Larry Binks
Area D (Rural Kaslo)-Aimee Watson
Area E (Rural Nelson)-Ramona Faust
Area F (Rural Nelson)-Tom Newell
Area G (Rural Salmo)-Hans Cunningham
Area H (Slocan Valley)-Walter Popoff
Area I (Rural Castlegar)- Andy Davidoff
Area J (Rural Castlegar)-Rick Smith
Area K (Arrow Lakes)-Paul Peterson
Municipal Directors:
City of Castlegar-Lawrence Chernoff
Town of Creston-Ron Toyota
Village of Kaslo-Suzan Hewat
Village of Nakusp-Karen Hamling
City of Nelson-Deb Kozak
Village of New Denver-Ann Bunka
Village of Salmo-Stephen White
Village of Silverton-Leah Main
Village of Slocan-Jessica Lunn