Voters in Nakusp have chosen a long-time village resident over a local businessman for village council.
Ken Miller, a retired handyman, easily won a by-election in the community on Saturday by a vote of 238-73.
He defeated Reny Kitto, owner of a local electronics retail store.
“It felt good, I’m pretty happy,” said Miller.
He admitted at the start of the campaign he had much to catch up on with village business, but said last month had helped him set his priorities.
“I’d like to see the water system straightened away,” he told Arrow Lakes News. “We can’t do too much expansion if we don’t have the water for it.
“I’d also like to see what’s going on with housing,” he added. “We just do not have housing in town.”
Miller says he’s also hoping to be appointed as the village’s representative on the hospital board, being a former employee of the facility.
Thanks to Kitto
There wasn’t much campaigning before by-election day, and the candidates were gracious after the voters had made their choice.
“I would like to thank the voters for getting out to the polls and also thank Reny for putting his name forward,” Miller posted to Facebook, along with a picture of the village from a lookout in the mountains. “I chose this photo to show what I’ll be committed to for my term and I will do my best to deserve this honor.”
“Congratulations Ken!” Kitto replied on Sunday on a local Facebook page. “The people have spoken and your experience in council is a great asset to our community.”
Village officials say they’ll release the official electoral count on Wednesday.
The by-election was called in April, after Councillor Janis Neufeld resigned for health reasons.
It’s not Miller’s first stint on council. He was also chosen to fill an empty seat on council back in 1993. His second term on council was in the early 2000s.
Miller, is also the treasurer of the Arrow Lakes Hospital Foundation and a volunteer at the Legion.
Miller will become an official councillor at the next council meeting on July 22.