For the second time in three election cycles, the Mayor of Oliver has been acclaimed.
Martin Johansen will remain in the role for another term after being the only registered candidate ahead of the Oct. 15 election.
乌鸦传媒淚t was a pleasant surprise and maybe shows that I乌鸦传媒檓 doing a good job and people are happy with what I乌鸦传媒檓 doing in the community,乌鸦传媒� the town乌鸦传媒檚 mayor told Black Press. 乌鸦传媒淚 wasn乌鸦传媒檛 anticipating somebody not to put their name in (the race).乌鸦传媒�
Johansen was first elected in 2018, defeating Ronald Hovanes, who was acclaimed himself in 2014.
Though always a priority, the mayor says tackling the issues associated with health care is more critical now than it was four years ago.
乌鸦传媒淚t was still an issue then but we all know it乌鸦传媒檚 becoming more of an issue these days, so that乌鸦传媒檚 a big one for me,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Johansen sat with B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix on June 1 to discuss the challenges facing his community. It was a 40-minute meeting described as 乌鸦传媒渟olution-based,乌鸦传媒� and one where Oliver乌鸦传媒檚 mayor asked Dix to keep an open mind whenever local health-related ideas were presented to the province.
乌鸦传媒淲e didn乌鸦传媒檛 have to spend a lot of time talking about the problems in Oliver and the problems in health care,乌鸦传媒� Johansen recalled. 乌鸦传媒淚 wasn乌鸦传媒檛 there to complain about things乌鸦传媒 just asked for some flexibility and an open mind when I come back with ideas, and that was definitely there.乌鸦传媒�
Johansen and Dix are set to follow up on their early-summer meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 14, at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention in Whistler.
The pieces of the puzzle are in place for Oliver to be successful over the next four years, the mayor says. Downtown revitalization, public-safety improvements, untapped economic opportunity with the local airport and the construction of affordable housing were among the referenced items.
乌鸦传媒淚 think we乌鸦传媒檒l get more done this term than we did the last term,乌鸦传媒� Johansen said. 乌鸦传媒淎ll that learning I乌鸦传媒檝e had in the last four years is going to help get things off the ground quicker.乌鸦传媒�
Though the town乌鸦传媒檚 mayor is acclaimed, a total of eight people will battle over four council spots in the fall election:
乌鸦传媒� Aimee Grice (incumbent)
乌鸦传媒� Kelly Long
乌鸦传媒� Leigh Lougheed
乌鸦传媒� David Mattes (incumbent)
乌鸦传媒� Terry Schafer (served on council before 2018)
乌鸦传媒� Charles Simpson
乌鸦传媒� Keith Quesnelle
乌鸦传媒� Petra Veintimilla (incumbent)
