Clearwater residents will be voting for mayor and for members of town council on Nov. 19. At the same time, people living in Wells Gray Country (Area A) and Thompson Headwaters (Area B) will go to the polls to select their Thompson-Nicola Regional District directors.
As of the end of nominations on Friday afternoon two candidates, John Harwood and Bert Walker, had filed nomination papers to run for mayor of District of Clearwater.
Harwood has been mayor since incorporation four years ago. He is also school trustee for the upper North Thompson Valley (Clearwater-Blue River) and several years ago served on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District as director for Area A (now Wells Gray Country).
Walker was TNRD director for Wells Gray Country before Clearwater became a municipality. He was defeated by Harwood to be District of Clearwater’s first mayor. One year later he successfully ran for town council where he has served ever since.
Only two of the six incumbent councilors plan to seek re-election: Ken Kjenstad and Stephanie Teare.
However, as of press-time late last week seven people had registered as candidates: Kjenstad, Teare, Arnold Brock, Elia Ganderski, Gord Heisterman, Jon Kreke and Jeff Lamond.
At least three others expressed an interest in running by attending an orientation session put on by District of Clearwater: Barry Banford, Merlin Blackwell and Samantha Frye.
All put in nomination papers before the deadline and one more, Shelley Sim, put her name in at the last minute, making a total of 11 seeking the six seats on District of Clearwater council.
No one registered to campaign against John Harwood to be school trustee for the Clearwater-Blue River area.
However, Tim Pennell faces opposition as he seeks reelection to be TNRD director for Wells Gray Country. Cheryl Thomas put her name in to face off against the incumbent.
Farther up the valley, Willow MacDonald of Janie’s General Store is taking on incumbent Max Lentz to be Thompson Headwaters (Area B - Avola-Blue River) director with the TNRD.
Nominations for mayor, town council, school board and TNRD closed Friday afternoon. Advance polling will be held Nov. 9 while local election day will be Nov. 19.
Updates on who is running for municipal, school board and regional district positions are available at www.elections.civicinfo.bc.ca/2011 on the Internet.
Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce and the Times will host an all candidates’ forum for District of Clearwater elections on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the Pit at Clearwater Secondary School, 7 p.m.