City of Cranbrook councilor Jim Wavrecan recently visited the Kent, England city from which Col. James Baker hailed.

Wavrecan presented a slide show for fellow councilors, city administration and onlookers during the July 18 council meeting, noting he was pleased to have a chance to “touch base with a part of our history.

“I can see why Col. Baker could see the land similarity,” Wavrecan said, explaining Kent’s Cranbrook got its name because of the marshy land around it that was populated with white cranes.

While in Cranbrook, Wavrecan, visited the Kent County Council, where 84 elected officials govern.

“It even has a cabinet and an opposition,” he said, adding the council chair has the power to turn a councilor’s microphone on “and she can turn them off,” he laughed.

“They treated us like royalty,” Wavrecan said, noting he discovered that there is some question as to which Kent-based Baker family Cranbrook’s founder belonged.

Wavrecan, who brought greetings from Kent County and the Borough of Cranbrook, is the first official candidate for city mayor in this November’s municipal elections, as he tossed his hat in the ring a couple of weeks ago.

Following his presentation he presented outgoing Mayor Scott Manjak with a plaque bearing the Kent County coat-of-arms. Kent is located in the southeastern corner of England.

Manjak is retiring from public service and moving to Sparwood, where his wife Raeleen will assume the position of chief financial officer with the District of Sparwood.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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