Whistler – Ken Melamed won his second consecutive three-year term as Whistler’s mayor on Saturday (Nov. 15), outpolling challenger Kristi Wells by a little more than 300 votes after a campaign dominated by concerns about fiscal matters and housing.
In preliminary results, Melamed garnered 1,527 votes to Wells’ 1,218.
Two of the three incumbents in the Whistler Council race — Ralph Forsyth and Eckhard Zeidler — were re-elected, with fellow incumbent Bob Lorriman finishing eighth. Elected were newcomer Tom Thomson, Forsyth, newcomer Chris Quinlan, Zeidler and newcomers Ted Milner and Grant Lamont.
Speaking in a quiet corner inside a jubilant Buffalo Bill’s, Melamed said he was gratified with the results but also recognized the significant challenges that lie ahead for the new council.
“All I can say is that the community takes the future of this town very seriously,” said Melamed, who served three terms on Council before being elected mayor in 2005. “That being said, I have to confess at some disappointment at what I consider to be a low voter turnout.”
A total of 3,761 votes were cast for mayor in the 2005 race in which Melamed outpolled Ted Nebbeling, with Wells a distant third. Preliminary results show only 2,865 votes having been cast for mayor this time around.
Wells, whose election night party at 21 Steps Restaurant was a understandably bit more subdued than was Melamed’s, said she thought it was a good campaign that focused on the issues. She added that she feels the themes she stressed in her campaign will help shape some of the actions taken by the new Council.
“It was a real team effort and a real model for community engagement and consultation,” said the four-term former councillor. “I think we’ve already had an impact — the Phoenix Project (seasonal housing) is on the Council agenda on Monday. Ken has said that he’s going to do an organizational review, and the community is engaged in the discussion about the budget like never before.”
Melamed acknowledged that fiscal matters have to be front and centre during the early months under the new Council.
Comparing the situation now with 2005, Melamed said, “I think if we hadn’t had the pressure of preparing for the Olympics, I think my vote count (Saturday) would have been higher. There’s a lot of concern about capital spending and fiscal management and I acknowledge that. Add to that the mix the global economic meltdown, and people are worried.
“That’s a very clear message that came out, not only in the vote, but in the conversation that we had during the campaign. I’d say it’s the biggest challenge we have.”
Zeidler agreed.
“I hope the way we handle the next budget is going to be a defining moment, energizing everyone in the community,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of hard work to do and everyone’s got to come together.”
He expressed sadness that Lorriman won’t be at the Council table during that process.
“I’m surprised that Bob is gone, but I congratulate the newcomers,” Zeidler said. “All I’m trying to do is speak for this community in the best way I know how. That's why I’m there.”
Official, verified results will be available on Monday.
RESULTS
Whistler Mayor — Ken Melamed 1,527*, Kristi Wells 1,218, Brian Walker 63, Miro Kolvek 54, Jag Bhandari 3.
Whistler Council — Tom Thomson 1,682*, Ralph Forsyth 1,612*, Chris Quinlan 1,606*, Eckhard Zeidler 1,495*, Ted Milner 1,418*, Grant Lamont 1,321*, Jack Crompton 1,132, Bob Lorriman 1,046, David Sharpe 577, Wayne Escott 382, Stephen Milstein 381, David Buzzard 323, Bill Overing 247, Shane Bennett 105, Will Pullinger 101, Simon Briggs 81, Christopher Reading 40.
Whistler School Trustee — Chris Vernon-Jarvis 933*, Christine Buttkus 584*, Amy Allen 556, Rachael Lythe 514, Connie Rabold 356.
David Van Seters Says... 
Municipal politics is all about selling off the city's land right out from underneath all its hard-working taxpayers. They're all the same. It doesn't make any difference.
Request Removal
November 18, 2008 @ 9:03 am PST