Litke won't seek re-election

Update -- Oct. 8

In a letter read from the steps of City Hall on Tuesday, Penticton Mayor Garry Litke announced he would not be running in the upcoming municipal election.

While naming a few of the accomplishments that left him proud to serve first as a council member, and then as mayor following last year’s byelection, Litke said it felt like had inherited too many negative challenges.

Photo: Contributed

Garry Litke will not seek another term as Mayor of Penticton.

“At times I felt like a juggler who had a dozen plates spinning on the end of a dozen different sticks all at the same time,” he said.

Issues such as:

• The Eckhardt Ave property (which is still the subject of litigation against the City)
• The Penticton Hospitality Association legal battle
• The possibility of a massive tax spike, and Challenge Penticton's inability to make a profit

He says these are some of the challenges he faced during his year in office.

However, the Mayor also noted that inroads had been made on a number of those issues. He also stated the success of signing off on vital contracts that had expired, such as with the South Okanagan Events Centre and local unions.

“Now, we move into an election period," said Litke.

“There will be some who choose to focus on the negative, such as PHA accountability or a clerical error on tax notices. It is important to learn from mistakes, but those who are continually looking backward are usually moving in that same direction. The only vision they have is hindsight.”

Instead of negativity we need positive ideas to move our community forward.  There is much work to be done”

To further this point, he talked about the new WestJet flights beginning Oct. 26 and the need for another new, higher-end hotel. The construction of a new prison south of town and a new hospital will also bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

“These are but a few of the challenges faced by the next Mayor and Council,” he said.

“We have done a lot. The road map has been drawn; our vision and plans are working, and major business interests are preparing to invest in Penticton.”

While Litke doesn’t name a replacement or throw his vote behind any particular candidate, he explains that Penticton needs a Mayor and Council that have a positive vision of prosperity and vibrancy.

“In the upcoming election please vote for people with a proven record of personal and professional integrity and who have the time to commit to doing a job that requires many hours of dedication. However, my name will not be on that ballot.”

"After nine years of service as a Councillor and then Mayor, I am ready to accept new and different challenges."

-- Ragnar Haagen

Original story -- Oct. 7

Penticton will have a new mayor when ballots are counted following the Nov 15 municipal election.

Garry Litke announced Tuesday afternoon he would not be running for re-election.

Litke was elected mayor 13 months ago in a byelection after former mayor, Dan Ashton was forced to resign after winning a seat in the provincial legislature.

He spent eight years as a councillor after first being elected in 2005.

Litke was re-elected in 2008 and 2011 before winning the by-election and spending one year as mayor.

Current councillor Andrew Jakubeit and John Vassilaki have both filed nomination papers seeking the mayor's chair.

Prospective candidates have until Friday at 4 p.m. to file nomination papers.