TNRD – Wholesale changes to directors on regional district board

Most of the faces around the TNRD table will be new following civic elections Saturday (Oct. 15, 2022).

First of all, I couldn’t be more pleased that the new director for Area P will be Lee Morris, who has served as my alternate for the past four years. Lee defeated Carla Barrett to win election yesterday.

Seventeen of the 26 directors will either be brand new or rejoining the board after an absence.

Eight incumbents were defeated last night: Arjun Singh and Dieter Dudy of Kamloops, Carol Schaffer from Area A, Sally Watson of Area E, Mayor Santo Talarico of Cache Creek, Steven Rice of Area I, Mayor Linda Brown of Merritt and Mayor Susan Swan of Clinton.

Nine incumbents are retiring from the board: Bill Kershaw (Area O), Denis Walsh (Kamloops), Mayor Jan Polderman (Lytton), Mayor Ken Christian (Kamloops), Ken Gillis (Area L), Mel Rothenburger (Area P), Mayor Rod Crowe (Chase), Ronaye Elliott (Area J) and Stephen Quinn (Area B).

Incumbents re-elected are Merlin Blackwell (Clearwater), Mike O’Reilly (Kamloops) and Dale Bass (Kamloops). Acclaimed are Al Raine (Mayor, Sun Peaks), Barbara Roden (Ashcroft), David Laird (Area M), Herb Graham (Area N), Ward Stamer (Mayor, Barriere), Jill Hayward (Area 0), Lee Onslow (Area B).

Replacing the departing directors are Lee Morris (Area P), John Ranta (a former mayor in Cache Creek), Usoff Tao (Area A), Jim Smith (Area E), Tricia Thorpe (Area I), Mike Grenier (Area J), Doug Haughton (Area L), Mike Goetz (mayor-elect, Merritt), Roland Stanke (a former mayor of Clinton), Denise O’Connor (mayor-elect, Lytton).

Kamloops directors will be picked by the new council after it’s sworn in.

— Mel Rothenburger.