Photo: Chelsea Powrie

Newly-elected chair of the RDOS board Karla Kozakevich casts her ballot at the board's inaugural meeting. Manfred Bauer, on her left, was elected vice-chair. 

The newly elected Regional District Okanagan Similkameen board had its inaugural meeting Thursday afternoon, with the 19 district and municipal representatives voting on chair and vice-chair positions. 

First, the new members and their alternates were sworn in, all reciting the oath of office simultaneously under the eye of provincial judge Gregory Koturbash. 

Then, nominations were sought for the position of chair of the RDOS. Incumbent chair Karla Kozakevich was nominated without a challenger, and therefore won. 

The position of vice-chair saw two hats in the ring, with incumbent Manfred Bauer challenged by newly-elected Penticton mayor John Vassilaki. 

Both candidates had two minutes to address the room, which Bauer used to outline his experience as vice-chair and that he is entering his third term as the mayor of Keremeos, as well as pointing out his value to the board as a member from the Similkameen, to allow voices from that area of the district to be heard. 

Bauer won the vote, resuming his spot as vice chair. 

Kozakevich then took the helm of the meeting as chair, and called for the election of chair and vice-chair of the Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital Board. Petra Veintimilla, councillor from the Town of Oliver, was up for the spot, as well as Frank Regehr from Penticton council. 

Regehr pointed to his background in financial matters, and Veintimilla brought forward letters of reference from local physicians. Veintimilla won the vote, becoming the new chair. 

Regehr put his name forward again for vice-chair, but was beat out by Toni Boot, newly-elected mayor of Summerland. 

Both Veintimilla and Boot are new to the chair positions on the hospital board.