By Greg Fry

TNRD board chair ready for challenge

Nov 8, 2017 | 11:10 AM

KAMLOOPS — Thompson-Nicola Regional District Board Chair John Ranta seems unfazed by the fact he will be challenged for the board chair position at tomorrow’s TNRD board meeting.

Area “I” Director and Vice-Chair Steven Rice has confirmed he has his sights set on the job. 

“I think that’s a good thing,” Ranta said when told Rice plan’s to run against him. “It’s healthy to have a race in local government and I’ll look forward to hearing his comments and what his plans are tomorrow for the regional district.”

So, why is Ranta, who is in his third year as board chair, running again?

“The board is operating well together. The staff is certainly cooperating with the board and working very hard to address the issues we had this summer with the floods and the fires and everything else,” he says. “And when it comes to politics you’re in the business in order to serve the public and I will continue to focus on the public interest in my job as chair if I’m re-elected.”

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He adds when things seem to be working well, he sees little “reason to change just for the sake of change.”

Ranta adds he’s been on the board as a director since 1991 which comes in handy.

“This is our 50th anniversary year and I’ve been sitting around the table for more than half of the existence of the regional district actually and I think that will serve the board and the citizens well.”

After five years on the TNRD Board and one year as vice-chair, Rice says there’s things he can bring to the table.

“A different type of skill set,” he told CFJC Today. “We have a pretty steady hand at the steering wheel, I don’t have a problem with that I just think it might be time for a little bit of a change.”

One area of expertise he says he brings is extensive knowledge of the agriculture sector.

“Certainly I bring an agricultural background being a farmer for 29 years and we’re just embarking on an Agri Plan and I think I can adds some value there,” Rice said. “At the end of the day I don’t think it’s as much about John and myself as it is about our board of directors. That’s where we have such a diverse skill set and I think that really needs to be maximized.”

Board chairs are elected by directors for one year terms.