Mayoral race rundown for Thompson region small towns

Oct 20, 2018 | 8:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — General voting day is underway across BC and there are some tight mayoral races right across the Southern Interior. 

Cache Creek’s incumbent mayor John Ranta is facing competition from two other candidates; Santo Talarico and Sean Murdock. An interesting race to watch will be in Chase, where five people are facing off for the top seat. Incumbent Rick Berrigan is battling against Bev Iglesias, David Lepsoe, Rod Crowe, and Harry Danyluk.

Neil Menard, Linda Brown and Susan Roline are battling it out for the mayor’s seat in Merritt, and another three-way race is underway between Sandy Agatiello, Barbara Roden and Alf Trill in Ashcroft.

Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith and Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine are both acclaimed in their respective communities. Two-way races are underway in Barriere, with Mike Fennell and Ward Stamer facing off, in Clearwater with Merlin Blackwell taking on Jon Kreke, and Williams Lake with Walt Cobb and Surinderpal Rathor going toe-to-toe.

Diana Guerin, Roland Stanke, Susan Swan and Ira Zbarsky are battling it out in Clinton, while Mitch Campsall, Rita Giesbrecht and Glen MacDonald are gunning for the mayor’s seat in 100 Mile House.

Keep up to date with the election results at CFJCToday.com, or tune in this evening at 10:30 p.m. when Bill O’Donovan will recap today’s vote. 

WILLIAMS LAKE

Incumbent mayor Walt Cobb has been re-elected, edging out Surinderpal Rathor by 700 votes.

CHASE

Rod Crowe has been elected mayor with 256 votes, a slim margin of 11 votes over David Lepsoe.

MERRITT

Linda Brown was elected mayor with 1,253 votes, representing more than 51 per cent. Susan Roline finished second and incumbent Neil Menard third.

SUN PEAKS

Al Raine was acclaimed as mayor, and will be joined by councillors Rob O’Toole, Ines Popig and Mario Pozza.

BARRIERE

Ward Stamer defeated Mike Fennell with a vote count of 461 to 184 for the mayor’s seat in Barriere.

CLEARWATER

Merlin Blackwell is anticipated to be the new mayor of Clearwater according to preliminary results, edging out Jon Kreke with a vote of 644 to 236.

ASHCROFT

Barbara Roden is the new mayor of Ashcroft by a vote of 319 to 283 over runner up Sandy Agatiello. Alf Trill came third.

LILLOOET

Peter Busse has unseated incumbent Lillooet mayor Marg Lampman by a vote of 460 to 394.

CLINTON

Susan Swan appears to have taken the mayoral race in Clinton, by a vote of 121 to 120 against Roland Stanke. Diana Guerin came third while Ira Zbarsky came fourth.

CACHE CREEK

Santo Talarico has unseated incumbent mayor of Cache Creek John Ranta by a vote of 230 to 204. Sean Murdock came third.