Kids under age of 18 given chance to vote
If it was up to kids under the age of 18, Penticton’s mayor and five of the six city councillors would be different than the ones elected on Saturday.
Results of Student Vote, an educational program which involves schools from across the province, were released following Saturday’s election. The vote occurs prior to the actual election and results are released afterward in order to not influence the outcome.
For mayor, students elected Jason Cox in the straw poll with 138 votes. The actual winner of the election, John Vassilaki, was second with 71 votes followed closely by incumbent Andrew Jakubeit with 68. James Blake, who manages Landmark Cinemas, collected 63 votes followed by marijuana advocate Jukka Laurio with five and security guard Dominic Wheeler with four.
For city council, Duffy Baker topped the student poll with 99 votes. Also chosen by the youth were John Archer, 75; Max Picton, 70; Joe Frocklage, 71; Darryl Clarke, 69, and Judy Sentes, 68.
Sentes was the only candidate chosen by Student Vote who was elected — also in sixth spot. Campbell Watt was first runner-up in the youth poll with 65 votes.
A total of 12 Penticton schools participated. The exercise is designed to teach students about the process and to encourage them to vote once they turn 18.
Polls were held for mayor and councillors only. The school board trustees were not included in Student Vote.
In Summerland, Toni Boot beat challenger Janet Peake 42-33 in the student vote. The result of municipal council also mirrored the actual election. Doug Holmes and Marty Van Alphen tied for first among councillors with 49 votes each. Also elected by the students were Erin Trainer, 45; Erin Carlson, 41; Richard Barkwill, 38 and Doug Patan, 37.
In Osoyoos, incumbent Sue McKortoff won the straw poll, beating Doug Pederson 200-104. Those elected by the youth were Jim King, 158; C.J. Rhodes, 130; Shelley McIntyre, 109; Jane Long, 102; Sy Murseli, 101 and Myers Bennett, 100.
In Oliver, where Mayor Ron Hovanes was not re-elected, he was given the nod by the young people, outpolling challenger Martin Johansen 113-32. Councillors favoured by the young people were identical to the ones chosen by the voters: Aimee Grice, 92; David Mattes, 88; Petra Veintimilla, 88; and Larry Schwartzenberger, 83.
Michelle Cumberland, a Grade 7 teacher at Holy Cross School in Penticton, believes the program is good for both students, as well as their parents.
“It gives teachers and students a vehicle through which to explore the big picture that is elections and our democratic process,” Cumberland said. “The absolutely best thing about the program is that it provokes meaningful dialogue both in the classroom and then at home between students and their families. I have parents who tell me that if it weren’t for their child coming home with information and opinions, they likely would not have bothered to vote.”
To view province-wide results and learn more about the program, visit studentvote.ca/results.