For the second time in three election cycles, the Mayor of Oliver has been acclaimed.
Martin Johansen will remain in the role for another term after being the only registered candidate ahead of the Oct. 15 election.
鈥淚t was a pleasant surprise and maybe shows that I鈥檓 doing a good job and people are happy with what I鈥檓 doing in the community,鈥� the town鈥檚 mayor told Black Press. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 anticipating somebody not to put their name in (the race).鈥�
Johansen was first elected in 2018, defeating Ronald Hovanes, who was acclaimed himself in 2014.
Though always a priority, the mayor says tackling the issues associated with health care is more critical now than it was four years ago.
鈥淚t was still an issue then but we all know it鈥檚 becoming more of an issue these days, so that鈥檚 a big one for me,鈥� he said.
Johansen sat with B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix on June 1 to discuss the challenges facing his community. It was a 40-minute meeting described as 鈥渟olution-based,鈥� and one where Oliver鈥檚 mayor asked Dix to keep an open mind whenever local health-related ideas were presented to the province.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have to spend a lot of time talking about the problems in Oliver and the problems in health care,鈥� Johansen recalled. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 there to complain about things鈥 just asked for some flexibility and an open mind when I come back with ideas, and that was definitely there.鈥�
Johansen and Dix are set to follow up on their early-summer meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 14, at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention in Whistler.
The pieces of the puzzle are in place for Oliver to be successful over the next four years, the mayor says. Downtown revitalization, public-safety improvements, untapped economic opportunity with the local airport and the construction of affordable housing were among the referenced items.
鈥淚 think we鈥檒l get more done this term than we did the last term,鈥� Johansen said. 鈥淎ll that learning I鈥檝e had in the last four years is going to help get things off the ground quicker.鈥�
Though the town鈥檚 mayor is acclaimed, a total of eight people will battle over four council spots in the fall election:
鈥� Aimee Grice (incumbent)
鈥� Kelly Long
鈥� Leigh Lougheed
鈥� David Mattes (incumbent)
鈥� Terry Schafer (served on council before 2018)
鈥� Charles Simpson
鈥� Keith Quesnelle
鈥� Petra Veintimilla (incumbent)
