New Mayor Sets Course For Council

By Corey Fischer

Nov 5, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Vernon’s new mayor will officially start his duties tonight, with Victor Cumming taking over from Akbal Mund.

However, Cumming has already laid some groundwork, meeting with his six councillors and administration last week and deciding on his major committee appointments.

Cumming (pictured) has appointed himself, Akbal Mund, Brian Quiring and Dalvir Nahal as city reps on the Regional District of North Okanagan board.

“I’m feeling very comfortable with the team going to the regional district. Three of them, besides me, have had significant experience at the municipal and regional level so I’m feeling very confident about the group.”

Cumming, Mund and newcomer Kelly Fehr will be Vernon’s reps on the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.

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“I’ve had very good conversations with all six councillors, and have their input on the other (30 or so) committees, which we will appoint after Monday night’s meeting,” Cumming tells Beach Radio News.

The only omission from the appointees, one could argue, is second term councillor Scott Anderson, who did not get one of the high profile postings, despite a second place finish in the polls behind Quiring.

Cumming hopes his council can be productive.

“I don’t expect people to agree on things every time, I expect them just to communicate well with each other, and stay focused on task.”

Cumming, a regional economist who came second in the mayor’s race to Mund in 2014, says he reminded his colleagues he has significant experience as a chair.

“I feel quite comfortable drawing them in if it seems like we’ve heard opinions and need to move on, so I’m feeling quite comfortable with that.”

The other newcomer to council is Kari Gares, a Coldstream resident who runs a mortgage broker business in Vernon.

Council members will be sworn in at a ceremony tonight at City Hall.

by Corey Fischer