Mayor-Elect Kari Gares at her election night event (Image Credit: Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Election Results

New mayor ready to lead City of Vernon

Oct 18, 2026 | 6:01 AM

Vernon has a new leader in charge of the city.

Kari Gares was elected to the role in the local general election with preliminary results showing she earned nearly 41 per cent of the vote.

The Mayor-Elect is ready to take the reigns when she’s back in the council chamber.

“I think what we need to figure out first and foremost is how to get the team together,” Gares told Vernon Matters after receiving word of winning the election.

“There’s a lot of new faces that are going to be on council and we’re going to have to bring them up to speed on a lot of issues, and then once we have them up to speed we’re going to have to sit down and figure out what our priorities are going to be for the next four years.”

Election Results

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Though exact plans still needed to be established, Vernon’s new mayor did have some ideas on what direction to take the city next.

“I know what I would like to see. One of them obviously is changing the communication, amp that up a little bit on the Mayor’s side. I think I’ve heard people loud and clear that that’s what they’re looking for,” Gares explained.

“Number two is obviously just working with staff and hopefully working on adjusting the morale there.”

Speaking about the election, Gares said she felt very happy with the win and how the race was run.

“Going into this campaign, running against an incumbent naturally is going to be a tough race, so I built ante a little bit, moved forward with a much heavier social media presence, and we did it differently this time,” the Mayor-Elect told Vernon Matters.

She noted people showed up and made it clear they wanted change, but also congratulated her opponents in the “tough, competitive race.”

The preliminary results of the Vernon and other North Okanagan local elections can be seen here.

Speaking with Vernon Matters, the outgoing mayor congratulated Gares on the win.

“I wish her luck, I hope she does extremely well, my complete thoughts are with her and I hope Vernon’s a much better place over the next four years,” Victor Cumming said after the votes were tallied.

He also wished the best to the new council.

“I look at everybody who’s been elected, they’re energetic and focused and going to be an exciting council as a group.”

The election results Saturday night were preliminary, and official results will be declared by the end-of-day October 21.

by Liam Verster

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