A MESSAGE FROM DOUG FINDLATER FOLLOWING THE NOVEMBER 19, 2011, ELECTION RESULTS

Thank you for your strong vote of confidence in the November 19, 2011 West Kelowna Election. I am very appreciative that nearly 6000 West Kelowna residents took the time out to vote on a day when travelling was not the best. This was democracy at its best.  Naturally I especially thank those who showed their support and confidence in me at the ballot box. This is a good mandate to continue the work in Building on a Strong Foundations for our new municipality.

To incumbent re-elected and newly elected Councillors Duane Ophus, Carol Zanon, Gord Milsom, Bryden Winsby and David Knowles, I extend my hearty congratulations and desire to continue the next term with the teamwork we’ve had during the past term. To newcomer Rick De Jong, I am pleased to have you join the team and I know your previous experience in local government will be a strong asset to the new Council.

To Rosalind Neis, on behalf of the past and incoming Councils, we thank you for  your clear and independent voice, and your hard work. The community of West Kelowna owes you a debt of gratitude for your 4 years of service and your leadership on many critical issues during our growing years.

To other candidates who stepped forward and put forward excellent ideas on how to make West Kelowna a better place, you deserve a great thank you from all our citizens for putting yourselves out there and offering our citizens choices.

One of the areas of concern that I have with the results of this election is that Council will need to ensure that it hears the views of women in our community, given that 6 of 7 seats on Council will now be held by men. I’m committed to hearing the views of women on critical issues of the day.

I wish to assure all of our residents that you have a very good council and that we are ready to move forward with implementing the many Master Plans for urban infrastructure and programs. The voters have given us a mandate, however we will need to keep in mind at all times that tax increases must be affordable to the property owner.

As we move ahead, I know Council will not agree on every issue, but my commitment to West Kelowna residents is that I will continue to work for you, and our community's  future.