The B.C. Liberal party recently nominated present Mayor of Penticton / Regional District Okanagan - Similkameen Chair Dan Ashton to be the party’s candidate in the Penticton riding.
Ashton won the four way contest between himself, Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino, Penticton businessman Mark Ziebarth and past president of the BC School Trustees Connie Denesiuk on October 20.
The party’s selection was undoubtably a difficult one to make, given the high calibre of candidates listed above.
We are comfortable with the choice they made, however, based on Ashton’s track record in the region.
As a regional politician, Ashton has probably maintained the highest profile of any regional politician for being accessible to Similkameen residents. He has a history of making himself available to Similkameen events that is worthy of note.
As an example, one could look at last week’s Olalla town hall meeting, held at 11a.m. on Saturday at the Elks Hall in Keremeos.
Even though he was not an official part of the proceeding, Ashton took the time to be there, making himself available to the public and regional district staff who were conducting the meeting.
He was also present at the last Olalla town hall meeting in September, a more spirited affair that, incidentally, was attended by double the number of residents that were present at Saturday’s meeting.
Should Ashton be elected next spring, he won’t be representing the Similkameen in Victoria. It’s good to know, nonetheless, that we’ll have at least two representatives in the provincial capital that have done their homework, and have a good working knowledge of what the Similkameen and its residents are all about.