The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors has a new vice chair following today’s monthly meeting in Cranbrook.

Each December the board re-elects a new chair and vice chair and Dec. 7 Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay was returned to the chair unopposed.

However, vice chair, District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft, nominated by Electoral Area G Director Gerry Wilkie, was challenged for the position by Electoral Area F Director Wendy Booth, nominated by Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski.

The board voted eight to seven to replace Taft with Booth.

“I am honoured to be elected vice chair,” said Booth, serving her second term as Area F director. “I am eager to continue to work together with the board to achieve our priorities and keep the best interests of the organization and this region at the forefront,” says Booth. This will be her first term as vice chair.

Prior to the election, the nominees gave brief presentations. Booth said she would a good choice for vice chair because “in all cases I support the board’s position. I do think there is more we can do to respect the taxpayers of the East Kootenay.”

Taft, who just turned 30, said he is celebrating his 10^th year in local government. “The time on this board is some of the best time I have spent on local government,” he said.

Gay said he appreciates the honour and is looking forward to the upcoming year.

“I have learned a lot over the past year about the roles and responsibilities of being chair and I am grateful for the continued support of my fellow board members. We have started to work on our strategic priorities, which will set our work plan for 2013 and I am looking forward to another dynamic year,” he said. “I’ll try to hold up my end of the bargain for the next 12 months.”

This will be his second term as Chair of the RDEK. He has been on the Board since 2005.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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