The election race in Oliver next month won’t be anything to write home about, but it will be very interesting to see if any of the three new candidates will be able to unseat any of the incumbents.
Mayor Ron Hovanes retains his seat by acclamation, which one could argue is a vote of confidence for his leadership during the past three years. It is a little surprising that no one stepped forward to challenge him, but as they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Hovanes has done an admirable job as mayor, making sure our squeaky wheels get the grease every year at the Union of BC Municipalities convention.
And we can’t forget our veteran water councillors, Andre Miller and Rick Machial, acclaimed once again, and no wonder considering their knowledge and expertise on water matters. Remember, don’t fix what’s not broken.
Oliver council appears to work very well as a team. Unlike some councils in the Okanagan Valley, there are not many debates, arguments or quarrels among members. And its general meetings, thank heavens, are not epic in proportions. We would think this would entice more residents to attend, but unfortunately it’s like pulling teeth to get anyone but the press to show up.
Kudos to Jeff Ashe, Lilly Zekanovic and Petra Veintimilla for wanting to give council some new blood. Do they have a chance to unseat the incumbents? It’s hard to say. It will depend on their platforms and how well they present themselves and the issues. Now, if one of them can single-handedly bring a hotel to Oliver, the seat could be theirs.
The incumbents – Dave Mattes, Maureen Doerr, Jack Bennest, and Larry Schwartzenberger – have a lot of support and are familiar with how the Town works. Unseating them won’t be easy. Perhaps it’s time to ask them some tough questions.
We hope a lot of people attend the all-candidates meeting at the Frank Venables Theatre on November 5. This will be a great opportunity to meet the new candidates and see what they can bring to the table.
As far as issues go, the Town of Oliver really doesn’t have a hot button item or controversy to liven up the election. The only topic that has garnered ongoing interest is the national park proposal. How do the incumbents and newcomers feel about this? Why not ask them at the all- candidates meeting.
Also, what is their solution to boost the local economy and bring more jobs to Oliver? Like some people claim, will the new correctional centre do this? No doubt our school trustees are hoping to see more student enrollment when the prison opens its doors and new families relocate here.
It’s not really up to the candidates to make this an interesting election. It’s up to the voters to ask questions that will spur some answers.
