Council veteran Andy Morel is Rossland’s new Mayor after receiving almost 65 per cent of the vote over candidate Kim LaFond at the municipal election on Saturday (Oct. 15).
Mayor elect Morel has been a member of council for the past eight years, including four of those as the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary director for Rossland.
“It’s going to take a little while to get use to, but I guess I’m ready for it,” said Morel. “I honestly thought it could go either way.”
Joining Morel on council are Maya Provencal, Lisa Kwiatkowski, Jeff Weaver, Eliza Boyce, Stewart Spooner, and Craig Humpherys. Spooner is the lone incumbent, although the five new council members made an impression at the forums put on at the RSS Gym and Rossland’s popular Mook Thai Restaurant.
About 250 residents attended the RSS forum on Oct. 5, a modest but invested group that literally took note of the responses offered by the 11 candidates for council and two for mayor.
“I think the forum did help,” said Morel. “And the word got out and got spread far and wide.”
Morel says he is looking forward to working with the new councillors and staff in helping all get acclimatized and comfortable in their new and varied roles.
“I’m ecstatic that Rossland chose this group of people. I think my first impression of the ones that weren’t long term residents, I didn’t know what first to expect but they really impressed me with their intelligence, their ideas, their enthusiasm and excitement for change and continued change, and in general really good people,” said Morel.
“My experience has been for the past eight years, when you have good people, people who care, people who are considerate, and respectful, you can get a lot done.”
Over the next couple months, city staff will be organizing workshops and team building opportunities to help council members settle in, and both Morel’s and Spooner’s experience should be invaluable for the members elect.
“These will be very important for all to attend, and on a personal note, again, the individual responsibility of a councillor to bring their game to the table, and their game will include civility, respect, and will include doing their homework.
“I anticipate varied opinions, good debate with sound arguments, and at the end shake hands and have an opportunity to go have a drink and talk about the issues and successes.”
Morel has been a staunch advocate for seniors’ housing and daycare spaces, and a supporter of the Firesmart and Green Link Trail programs. Tops on his to do list is to get citizen input and work with consultants to develop a Recreation Master Plan. He supports the roll out of the curbside organics pickup and composting programs, the sewage treatment plant upgrades, and looks to refine the asset management plan to ensure grant funding for future city property and utilities infrastructure upgrades, like the construction of a downtown public washroom.
Rossland saw a 52 per cent voter turnout, as 1,627 of 3,127 estimated eligible voters cast a ballot, compared to 36.9 per cent voter turnout in Trail, 41 per cent in Warfield, 62 per cent in Montrose and 26 per cent in Fruitvale.
“I am very thankful for the support, and the people that called and said how can we help?” added Morel. “And my partner Eileen who took on the role of campaign manager and worked hard to support me. I’m just so lucky and so blessed.”
Greater Trail 2022 municipal election results:
The City of Trail voted in Colleen Jones as its new mayor. A councillor for the past four years, Jones received 1,310 votes or 53.9 per cent in defeating former mayor, Lisa Pasin, who garnered 44.4 per cent.
Trail will also see a wealth of new faces in its council chambers with Bev Benson, Terry Martin, Nick Cashol, Doug Wilson, and Thea Hanson winning a seat, as well as lone incumbent Paul Butler.
Frank Marino is the new mayor of Warfield, taking 76.5 per cent of the vote to Erika Krest’s 22.5 per cent. Joining Marino on council are Carolyn Amantea, Jim Hill, Raymond Masleck, and Fran Noone.
Montrose re-elected Mike Walsh as its mayor, with incumbents Paul Caron, Cindy Cook, Rory Steep and Donald Berriault all reclaiming their council seats.
And in Fruitvale, Mayor Steve Morissette was acclaimed, with four council seats going to Wes Startup, Bill Wenman (incumbent), Julia A Mason and Catherine Ellison.
See full election results on pg.?.
Read: Rossland elects new mayor and council
Read: Trail elects new mayor and council
ROSSLAND
Eligible voters: 3,127
Ballots cast: 1,627
Turnout: 52 per cent
Mayor:
Andy J Morel 1,052 — 64.7 per cent
Kim D LaFond 570 — 35 per cent
Council: (six seats)
Maya Provencal 1,129 — 69.4 per cent
Lisa Kwiatkowski 979 — 60.2 per cent
Jeff Weaver 952 — 58.5 per cent
Eliza Boyce 906 — 55.7 per cent
Stewart L Spooner (incumbent) 884 — 54.3 per cent
Craig S Humpherys 733 — 45.1 per cent
Brian Pistak 625 — 38.4 per cent
Richard K Kemick 620 — 38.1 per cent
Tim Thatcher 591 — 36.3 per cent
Sam Troy 470 — 28.9 per cent
Paul A Evans 441 — 27.1 per cent
Eligible voters: 6,481
Ballots cast: 2,429
Turnout: 36.9 per cent
Mayor:
Colleen Jones 1,310 votes — 53.9 per cent
Lisa Pasin (incumbent) 1,078 votes — 44.4 per cent
Council: (six seats)
Bev Benson 1,681 — 69.2 per cent
Terry Martin 1,542 — 63.5 per cent
Nick Cashol 1,397 — 57.5 per cent
Doug Wilson 1,343 — 55.3 per cent
Thea Hanson 1,304 — 53.7 per cent
Paul Butler (incumbent) 1,009 — 41.5 per cent
Ravi Gandha 814 — 33.5 per cent
Rebecca Richards 799 — 32.9 per cent
Donovan Brown 561 — 23.1 per cent
Incumbent Carol Dobie 560 — 23.1 per cent
Bryan DeFerro 554 — 22.8 per cent
Jeff Jones 524 — 21.6 per cent
Glen Byle 393 — 16.2 per cent
Steve Morissette (incumbent) - acclaimed
Council: (four seats)
Wes Startup 331 — 78.8 per cent
Bill Wenman (incumbent) 330 — 78.6 per cent
Julia A Mason 323 — 76.9 per cent
Catherine A Ellison 268 — 63.8 per cent
Jennifer R Krause 130 — 31 per cent
Carrie A Farnum 78 — 18.6 per cent
Lindsay Kenny (incumbent) 74 — 17.6 per cent