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Meet the Area E and F candidates
Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area E and F voters head to the polls Oct. 17 with two choices for representation.
In Area F, two term incumbent Susan Clovechok of Fairmont Hot Springs seeks re-election and is being challenged by Windermere resident Quentin Randall.
Area E will have a director who is not named Walter for the first time in over 20 years, as director Jane Walter is not seeking re-election after serving 15 years on the board. She replaced her late husband Norm who was a multi-term director before.
Wasa residents Penny Flegel and Nowell Berg are vying for the open seat.
Electoral Areas A, B, C and G were decided via acclamation (only one candidate put their name forward).
Meet the candidates
Penny Flegel (Area E)
Area E is home. It is where my family and I have built our lives, and it is a community I am proud to serve.
For 23 years, Wasa Lake has been an important part of my family’s life. I am seeking the position of Electoral Area E Director because my experience in local government, education and community service has prepared me to represent our communities thoughtfully and effectively.
I began my career in Aquatics with the District of Sparwood before joining the District of Elkford in 1991. I progressed through increasingly responsible positions and ultimately served as Program Coordinator, Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services.
In that role, I gained extensive experience in municipal operations, including staff supervision, operating and capital budgets, community programming, contracts, purchasing, grant writing and preparing reports for Mayor and Council. I also worked closely with community organizations and coordinated special events, including Elkford Wildcat Days.
That experience taught me the importance of preparation, responsible decision-making, understanding the facts and listening to the people you serve.
When I left the District of Elkford in 2008, I focused on raising my two children while remaining actively involved in our community. Throughout those years, I took on leadership and volunteer roles in our schools, youth activities, sports, theatre and community organizations, organizing fundraisers and contributing to numerous community events and initiatives. Giving my time and getting involved where I could have always been an important part of who I am.
In 2015, I returned to the workforce as an Educational Assistant with School District No. 6, where I continue to work today. This role has strengthened my belief in the importance of patience, respect, communication and truly listening to others.
Strong representation means being accessible, informed and prepared. It means asking questions, doing the research, communicating openly and making responsible decisions with the long-term interests of Area E in mind.
I bring experience in local government, budgeting, leadership, community engagement, public service and education, along with a genuine commitment to the place I call home.
I am ready to listen, prepared to do the work and honoured to seek the opportunity to represent the people of Electoral Area E.
Nowell Berg (Area E)
Retired from the corporate trenches, I live full-time at Wasa. A home in the middle of my heart.
I’ve been in and around Wasa all my life enjoying the four seasons and the benefits of outdoor recreation.
Elected as a volunteer Trustee on the Board of the Wasa Lake Land Improvement District (WLLID) in 2017, the past three years as Board Chair has provided opportunities to engage with many people.
As a candidate for Director of Area E, I am committed to working with all residents and communities.
A Director should listen, work collaboratively and follow through on issues that matter to electors.
Susan Clovechok (Area F)
Susan Clovechok has served as your Electoral Area F Director since she was first elected in 2018. She lives just south of Fairmont Hot Springs with her husband Doug and their dog Charlie, and has lived and worked in Area F for nearly 20 years.
Trusted. Neighbours know Susan as the director who shows up on site, at the kitchen table, at the coffee shop, at the community hall. She tells them the truth even when it isn’t what they hoped to hear.
Proven. In eight years at the board table, Susan has brought real money home to Area F: the $13.6 million Cold Spring Creek project, funded almost entirely through grants rather than local taxes, along with support for Angel Flight East Kootenay, the Fairmont airport and Peaks Gymnastics. She initiated the work to regulate short-term rentals so neighbourhoods stay neighbourhoods.
Delivering. Much of a director’s work never makes the news. Land use questions, permit files, a resident who needs help finding the right person at the RDEK. Susan treats each one as the reason she’s there, helping people live the life they want to live in Area F. Her background in adult education, marketing, process improvement and business management shapes a practical, collaborative approach. Susan listens carefully, understands the file, and gets it done.
On October 17, re-elect Susan Clovechok. Trusted. Proven. Delivering.
Quentin Randall (Area F)
Quentin Randall is a leader with experience working across provincial, regional and local organizations in economic development, transportation and transit, and tourism. His work has brought together communities, governments and other partners around complex regional initiatives, while giving him extensive experience with provincial and federal programs, fund development and management, and turning many different regional priorities into sustainable results.
A Certified International Trade Professional (CITP), Quentin learned early in his career that effective leadership depends on clear communication, disciplined process and follow-through. He brings that same precise approach to governance: listen carefully, understand the issue, communicate clearly, work constructively with others, and get things done.
Quentin has twice served as a director of Columbia Valley organizations, including service on a finance committee during a period when the organization nearly doubled its assets. He has also helped stabilize the finances and operations of the Lake Windermere Whiteway through a significant transition period and works with Columbia Valley Food & Farm to strengthen local food recovery and food security initiatives.
Those experiences are a large part of why Quentin is running to represent Area F. He believes our communities deserve a Director who will listen to residents and communicate clearly, work hard to understand community issues, advocate for good solutions, build productive relationships across the region, and turn good ideas into practical results.
Quentin lives in Windermere with his wife, daughter, stepdaughter and Golden Retriever. Outside of work, he plays and coaches basketball and spends as much time as possible hiking, swimming and paddleboarding on the lakes and trails of the Columbia Valley.
Find more information about the 2026 election in the RDEK.
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