Summerlanders elect Toni Boot
Summerland’s new mayor is Toni Boot.
“I am just so grateful for the people of Summerland to have faith in me and (I’m) really looking forward to getting to work,” she said, Saturday night.
Boot won handily with 2,331 votes compared to 1,724 for lone challenger Janet Peake, according to the unofficial results.
Boot and Peake shook hands and exchanged pleasantries after the announcement.
“It’s been excellent working with (Peake), and working with the rest of the council,” Boot said.
“It was difficult to be running against a colleague, but she’s done a lot for the community and I know she will continue to be very active with the community,” Boot said.
Despite finishing second place, Peake sees the silver lining in the loss: she will now be able to spend more time with her three grandchildren that live in the community.
“I think it looks like a good mix on council,” Peake commented. “Thank you to everyone who voted for me, I certainly appreciate their support.”
Re-elected incumbent Doug Holmes received the highest amount of votes out of his competitors with 2,868 votes in total.
“It’s going to be a great council,” he said. “We were in the middle of some pretty cool projects and I would like to see those through.”
He also added that those projects were one of the main reasons for running for council again and that he’s eager to begin working on Summerland’s infrastructure.
Summerland’s newest face on council, Doug Patan, comes with a municipal background with his experience working with the city of Kelowna and received the highest number of votes for newest council member with 2,342.
“I live in the community, and just felt like there was a lot that I could offer,” he said. He also offered his congratulations to fellow Kelowna city staffer Martin Johansen, who won the mayor’s seat in Oliver.
Summerland’s council will be welcoming back incumbents Erin Trainer, Erin Carlson, and Richard Barkwill. Martin Van Alphen will be rejoining the team after sitting out one term.
Trainer was just shy of winning the title of highest amount of votes for a returning councilor with a total of 2,803.
Carlson came in at 2,483 votes, Barkwill earned himself 2,160 and Van Alphen won 1,983.
The new council will be sworn in Nov. 5.