The new Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff (left) listens as Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services, reads her the oath of office during her swearing in on Monday. (Richard McGuire photo)
New Town of Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff and incumbent councillor C. J. Rhodes gave the three new council members a very warm welcome as the newly-elected council was officially sworn in Monday in council chambers.
McKortoff, who waltzed to a landslide victory in the November 15 municipal election over former town councillor Ray Vandenberg, welcomed newcomers Carol Youngberg, Jim King and Mike Campol and said she looks forward to working with them and Rhodes over the next four years.
“I think it’s going to be a very good team for the next four years,” said McKortoff, who announced her candidacy for mayor after longtime mayor Stu Wells announced he would be leaving municipal politics on the final day of filing his application to run in the election.
King, Campol and Youngberg have all been heavily involved in community volunteerism and have shown a clear commitment to making this community a better place to live and she’s confident the new council is going to accomplish many good things over the upcoming four-year term of office, said McKortoff.
McKortoff said she was “delighted to have C. J. back on council” not only because of his experience the last two terms, but also because of his ability to “get to the straight and narrow” on key issues facing the community.
Rhodes said he was also excited to be working with a new team that is sure to bring new energy and good ideas to the new council and to the benefit of local residents.
“I’m very excited about working with you over the next four years … and I really think we’re going to be able to get a lot accomplished in the next four years,” said Rhodes.
Youngberg thanked everyone who voted for her and she promised to work extremely hard as a councillor to fulfill the promises she made to local citizens during the election campaign.
“It’s an honour and definitely a privilege to have been elected to serve as a councillor for the Town of Osoyoos,” said Youngberg. “I’m looking forward to achieving many goals over the next four years and getting to work on projects I promised during the campaign.”
Campol said he’s excited and anxious to enter the world of municipal politics and believes there is a very good council team in place to make progressive changes for this community.
“The pressure is on and it’s time to make things happen,” he said.
King said he’s also looking forward to bringing positive change to the community and continuing to make Osoyoos a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
“Hopefully we will work well together for the betterment of the town,” he said.
McKortoff said while she’s looking forward to the future, she wanted to take time while being officially sworn in as mayor to thank Wells and former councilors Mike Plante and Michael Ryan.
“I wanted to give a huge thank you to all three of them,” she said.
Plante brought youthful enthusiasm and an undying passion for this community to the council table and worked tirelessly on many important projects, including spearheading the committee to get a new splash park opened last summer, she said.
Ryan shared the same passion and had an innate ability to cut through bureaucracy and red tape and come up with great ideas and solutions to difficult issues facing the community, she said.
Wells was a great leader and helped her immensely during her first term as a councillor and his guidance and support won’t ever be forgotten, she said.
“Mayor Wells had a way of always being cheerful … and he has a passion for Osoyoos,” said McKortoff. “He will remain on my speed dial for sure.”
She promised to stay in regular contact with Plante, Ryan and Wells when looking for good ideas and advice and looking at projects that would be beneficial to local residents, said McKortoff.
Incumbent Claude Moreira and newcomer Sarabjit Rai were elected by acclamation for the office of water councillor for the Town of Osoyoos for a period of four years and were officially sworn in as part of Monday’s ceremony.
In other housekeeping matters during the first meeting, council agreed to cancel the first scheduled meeting of council in the new year on January 5 as well as the first meeting following the August long weekend.
McKortoff accepted a nomination for her to serve the town on the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) board of directors. Rhodes will be the alternate when she can’t attend board meetings.
Youngberg accepted a nomination to be the town representative on the Okanagan Regional Library Board, with Campol selected as the alternate.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Re-elected councillor C.J. Rhodes (left) listens as Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services, reads him the oath of office during his swearing in on Monday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Newly elected councillor Carol Youngberg (left) listens as Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services, reads her the oath of office during her swearing in on Monday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Newly elected councillor Mike Campol (left) signs his oath of office as Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services, looks on during his swearing in on Monday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Newly elected councillor Jim King (left) listens as Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services, reads him the oath of office during his swearing in on Monday. (Richard McGuire photo)
