The Regional District of North Okanagan has started a new chapter with Patrick Nicol at the helm. The long time Vernon councillor beat-out three other candidates to
become the board chair, the first ever Vernon director to hold it. Nicol told the board members he was "stunned" at the outcome, and later told Kiss FM he was honoured. "There's been a lot of great people from Vernon (on the board), but
even more, I've always felt that the regional district is for all our
citizens." Nicol, who topped the Vernon polls in the November 19th election, says one of his goals is to get the board working together. "I'm hopeful that the significant issues that come before us will be
done the way tonight's competitive elections were done in the spirit of
cooperation, that whoever won or lost, we were going to support those
individuals." Nicol says another positive sign is that he was nominated by Coldstream's Doug Dirk. "It means that we're all in this together.That's what it represented
to me, and the fact that Doug Dirk who I respect and could have easily
nominated as chair myself, made the motion (to nominate Nicol), really
was the sweetest part of it all." Armstrong councillor Shirley Fowler, Lumby mayor Kevin Acton, and Area D director Rick Fairbairn also sought the chair. Fairbairn was re-elected as the vice chair, over Fowler and Acton. The votes were secret ballots, with the tallies not released. Area C's Mike Macnabb nominated Fowler for chair, Area E's Eugene
Foisy nominated Fairbairn, and in a strange twist Fowler
nominated Acton. Even more interesting was for vice chair when Acton nominated Fowler, and then Fowler nominated Acton.
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The new chairperson of the Regional District of North Okanagan wants infighting to end. Director Patrick Nicol was elected as chairperson during the inaugural meeting of the board Wednesday. "I really believe in the regional district and we
represent all of the region. I've never believed in a segmented
version," he said. Nicol is the first Vernon politician to lead RDNO since
it was formed in 1965 and he was nominated by Coldstream director Doug
Dirk. Nicol believes recent conflicts between Vernon, Coldstream and RDNO can be resolved. "I'm hopeful the significant issues that come before us
will be done in a sense of co-operation. Thia organization deserves
strong leadership and co-operation," he said. A similar message came from outgoing chairperson Herman Halvorson, who did not seek re-election Nov. 19. "I hope everyone pulls together and makes this a strong regional district. It once was and can be again," he said. The 13-person board includes new directors from Enderby, rural Enderby, BX-Swan Lake, Spallumcheen and Vernon. Re-elected as vice-chairperson for the next year is rural Lumby director Rick Fairbairn.
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