PENTICTON – The regional district acclaimed Mark Pendergraft to the big chair formerly held by MLA Dan Ashton.

Pendergraft has been the acting chair of the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen board since Ashton stepped down to run in the provincial election in May.

Director and Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino is happy with the new chair. "The fact he is a director from a rural community I think that's a good change for us."

She said rural directors have a different perspective. Ashton was Penticton's mayor and head of a municipality. Pendergraft oversees a larger zone focused on rural matters. "That's going to be a real change for the board."

Director Tom Siddon said the board has rotated who sits in the big chair. For the past 10 years it was a municipal person. This time it's a rural director who Siddon called a reserved person. He also said a person tends to grow into their role.

The new vice-chair is Oliver Mayor Manfred Bauer. He ran against Keremeos Mayor Ron Hovanes. Perrino said both men are leaders of rural communities and would have been excellent choices.

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