Oliver mayor Ron Hovanes says this will be his final election

OLIVER — In a town with a tradition of returning incumbents, there is no shortage of challengers to the two women and five men seeking to retain their seats around the Oliver council table.

Three-term Mayor Ron Hovanes faces a challenge from a candidate with a strong management resume running on a platform centred on the need to change leadership.

While a bit short on details, Martin Johansen told an all-candidates meeting at the Frank Venables Theatre on Wednesday evening that conversations with local residents make it “clear there is an appetite for change in leadership.” He added that Oliver faces a “fork in the road” and added: “You can go with me, or you can go around in a circle and end up back at the fork in the road.”

Johansen works as a senior manager for the City of Kelowna and says his experience makes him ideally suited for the mayor’s chair. He claims four-generation roots in the community and plans to retire there. His wife works at the South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver.

Currently, Johansen’s leadership skills are on display as coach of the South Okanagan bantam hockey team.

Hovanes was born and raised in Oliver and operates a local business with his wife, Tara. He dropped a bit of news on Wednesday’s forum when he volunteered that this will be his last mayoral campaign.

The announcement came as part of an answer to a resident who asked if Hovanes would commit to serving out his term rather than stepping down half-way through to run provincially.

The mayor has long been touted as a possible successor to Liberal MLA Linda Larson. He seemed a bit taken aback by the question and declined to make such a commitment, saying he prefers to “keep my options open. … What plays out in the future will play out in the future.”

Hovanes has served two terms as a councillor and three as mayor.

“If I’m re-elected, this will be my last term as mayor,” he said.

All four incumbent councillors are running to retain their seats.