Lake Country gets new mayor after contender drops out
After the only other contender dropped out of the race, Blair Ireland will become Lake Country’s new mayor. Mayor James Baker has called an end to his political career after 41 years. He has served as mayor for the last 17 years. READ MORE: Lake Country's Mayor Baker calling it a...
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After the only other contender dropped out of the race, Blair Ireland will become Lake Country’s new mayor.
Mayor James Baker has called an end to his political career after 41 years. He has served as mayor for the last 17 years.
READ MORE: Lake Country's Mayor Baker calling it a day at age 80, and 40 years of public service
Ireland has been Okanagan Centre’s councillor for the last eight years. He worked at Big White Ski Resort before retiring after 28 years as the director of guest services.
Since contender Barry Rhodes, who also ran for mayor and came close to winning in the last municipal election, decided to drop out for personal reasons, Ireland will be acclaimed to the seat.
Rhodes told Ireland he was dropping out of the race earlier last week, when Ireland was in Whistler for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities. The pair had a lengthy conversation, Ireland said. "I listened to his issues and his problems and I respect what he had to say."
“I’m not really a world domination kind of guy, I was a little bit hesitant about it… but I think I can help us to have some change and a lot of people in the community are telling me ‘you better run for mayor or I’m not inviting you over for coffee anymore,’” Ireland said. “I got a lot of push from the community to do that.”
Some of the issues Ireland said the new council will be facing is dealing with the strain of rapid growth on civil services.
“It overwhelms the municipal staff and it’s tough to say we’re handling it well because we’ve tried,” he said. “I think we’ve turned a corner.”
Another issue facing the district is the rising costs of construction, he said. “We’re going to have to find a lot of money to filter our water out of Beaver Lake.”
Oyama Coun. Todd McKenzie and Carr’s Landing Coun. Cara Reed has also been acclaimed as they are the only contestants vying for spots in their wards.
Long-time Coun. Penny Gambell is not running for a seat this year. She has served as councillor at large since 2005.
Lake Country's municipal election will be held Oct. 15.
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