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Penticton  

Kelowna staffer set to govern

Arguably the biggest electoral shocker in the Okanagan came in Oliver, where newcomer Martin Johansen ousted longtime mayor Ron Hovanes after an elbows-up campaign focused on public safety.

Johansen, who is the current building services manager with the City of Kelowna, moved to Oliver in February with plans of retirement. That will take place in the new year, with Johansen working part time until then to fulfill mayor's duties.  

Out of the gate, he says his biggest priorities will be to get to know the other councillors — including three re-elected incumbents — and advocate for a “citizens survey" to take the pulse of the town.

“To get an idea what the people are thinking. I feel there is a bit of divisiveness in the community, by the way the vote unfolded.”

He envisions the survey would focus on issues like quality of life, value for taxes and budget priorities.

Because Oliver is under 5,000 people and on the provincial RCMP contract, town hall has limited say on how policing is delivered. Regardless, the mayor-elect says he will push for the creation for a “coordinated enforcement committee,” that will get RCMP and other stakeholders to one table.

“Getting some data on what the problems are and where the problems are, thinking ahead to budget, which isn’t that far away,” he said, musing about private security, increased bylaw or even CCTV cameras.

“I’d like to get some feedback from the people out there on the streets living it every day,” he added.

Hovanes, who had been mayor since 2011 and from 2005 to 2008, took heavy criticism throughout the campaign for a rise in violent crime in the town. Spurred on by a pair of murders this summer, citizens organized a public forum on crime, with some laying blame at the feet of town hall.

Hovanes was flying to Ottawa Sunday for a meeting with the federal minister of infrastructure on the much-needed canal upgrades.



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