Voters chose experienced candidates in the Summerland mayor and council election on Saturday.
All except two of those elected to council roles had served on council during the past term, and one other had served on a previous Summerland council.
In the mayoral race, Toni Boot received 2,331 votes, defeating Janet Peake with 1,724 votes.
Both had served as councillors on the past term.
“I’m ecstatic. I’m just over the moon that Summerlanders have grabbed on to my vision and had supported me in this way at the polls,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to working with the council. It’s a very strong council and I think that we can get a lot of things done, so I’m really, really happy to be in this position.”
Among the councillors, Doug Holmes received 2,868 votes while Erin Trainer received 2,803 votes and Erin Carlson received 2,483 votes.
All three were incumbents, first elected in the 2014 municipal election.
Doug Patan received 2,342 votes. While he is new to council, he has spent many years in municipal government, most recently in the planning department with the City of Kelowna.
Richard Barkwill, an incumbent first elected in 2014, received 2,160 votes.
Martin Van Alphen, a councillor from 2011 to 2014, was elected with 1,983 votes.
Three other candidates were on the ballot.
Ron Kubek received 1,572 votes, Mark Smed received 1,335 votes and Claude Gautron received 1,280 votes in the election.
Richard Barkwill said he is happy with makeup of the council.
“I think we have a good, broad representation of the community,” he said.
“I’m very pleased,” Holmes said. “I think it will be a great council and I’m looking forward to being part of it. I think we will all work well together.”
“I’m very honoured to be elected again,” Trainer said. “It’s very comforting to know my first four years mattered. I’m ready to get to serve a second time.”
Carlson is also looking forward to a second term on council.
“Summerlanders have elected a very good council,” she said.
“We have a lot to do and I’m excited to be part of it.”
Patan said he felt overwhelmed but excited with the results of the election.
“I think I’m going to have a lot of fun. I think there is a lot of work ahead, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Van Alphen is pleased to return to the council table after a four-year absence.
“I’m glad to be back. Congratulations to everyone who ran.”
A total of 4,099 ballots were cast.
Jeremy Denegar, chief elections officer for the community, said this represents a 43 per cent voter turnout.
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