First term City of Cranbrook councillor Tom Shypitka has won the Kootenay East BC Liberal Party nomination to serve as candidate in the May 2017 provincial election.

Shypitka earned the nomination over Sparwood resident and former Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks during weekend voting by party members in the riding.

Incumbent MLA Bill Bennett announced last spring that he is stepping down after 16 years in power in 2017.

“The East Kootenay has been my family’s playground for five generations and I couldn’t be more proud to be nominated to serve the people of this region. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work to be a strong voice in Victoria,” Shypitka stated.

Shypitka has lived and worked in the Kootenays his entire life.

In 2014, he topped the polls as a Cranbrook city councillor, and was appointed as a director of the Regional District of East Kootenay and hospital board. He is also the Vice Chair for the Central East Kootenay Community Directed Funds Committee.

As an active volunteer, Tom has served with many health-based charities and has also volunteered as a minor coach in baseball, soccer, and curling.

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