ELECTION 2014: BASRAN IS NEW MAYOR: defeats former Mayor Sharon Shepherd

Preliminary counts indicate Coun. Colin Basran has defeated Sharon Shepherd in the race for the mayors chair.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

Republished November 16, 2014 - 9:35 AM

Original Publication Date November 15, 2014 - 8:52 PM

KELOWNA - This time, youth beat experience.

Colin Basran, a one-term councillor, who turned 37 yesterday, defeated one the city's most experienced candidates, Sharon Shepherd. Shepherd was a three-term councillor and two-term mayor before she was defeated in 2011 by Walter Gray, who endorsed Basran. This was to be Shepherd's political return, but a massive campaign behind Basran ended that.

Early, and as yet unofficial, results show Basran with a massive lead over Shepherd. Meanwhile, Kelowna first political slate, Taxpayers First was shut out of councillor seats, as was Prosper Kelowna. All but one of the elected candidates—Charlie Hodge—were on the list recommended by ForKelowna.

At a large and loud reception outgoing mayor, Walter Gray, was there to support Basran.

"It doesn't surprise me that he won but it surprises me he won by such a wide margin. It's going to give him a lot of confidence and that's something you need as a young mayor," Gray said.

When he finally arrived at the Coast Capri, Basran was greeted by more than 100 supporters cheering and chanting "Kelowna" and interrupting him often with hugs and handshakes.

"This is both an honour and a privilege that I will not wear lightly," he said. "I'm so proud of the campaign we have run the last few months."

Basran thanked his family for their support as well as fellow councillors Andre Blanleil and Robert Hobson for their endorsements.

"In particular I would like to thank Sharon Shepherd for her commitment to Kelowna both as a city councillor and for all the humanitarian work she continues to do."

RESULTS:

MAYOR

BASRAN, Colin 16888 or 56.70 per cent of votes
SHEPHERD, Sharon 10512
THOMPSON, Mark 1143
HARDY, Chuck 548
ROW, Kelly 450
SMEDLEY, Glendon 84
CONDY, Sam 80
MURPHY, James 78

COUNCILLORS

STACK, Luke 16651
GIVEN, Gail 15691
DeHART, Maxine 15683
SINGH, Mohini 15561
SIEBEN, Brad 12666
GRAY, Tracy 11588
DONN, Ryan 9622
HODGE, Charlie 9519
ITANI, Beryl 8187
THURNHEER, Laura 7816
MONK, Alan 6247
MOSSMAN, David 5311
JAMES, Graeme (TaxPayersFirst) 4900
GORMAN, Michael (TaxPayersFirst) 4473
McLOUGHLIN, Mike (ProsperKelowna) 4374
UPSHAW, Sean (ProsperKelowna) 3946
GRAN, Carol (TaxPayersFirst) 3866
KENNEDY, Bobby 3151
RAJABALLY, Mo 3058
OLSON, Dale (TaxPayersFirst) 2533
VAN RYSWYK, Dayleen 2310
AALTONEN, Billie (TaxPayersFirst) 2211
KENDALL, Leslie 2101
JAMES, Rawle 1748
CONNOR, P.S. Reilly 1513
CHUNG, Ken 1500
MILES, Gwen 1298
FINNEY, Ken 1283
CONDY, Cal 1002
JESSACHER, Krista 785
SOMER, Derek 'Red' 762

School Trustee

GORMAN, Chris 10986
CACCHIONI, Rolli 10635
TIEDE, Lee-Ann 8036
MOSSMAN, Lee 7426
BRINKERHOFF, Joyce 7195
PENDHARKAR, Murli 6667
AUBIN, Nicholas 6400
PAGLIOCCHINI, Peter 5667
AALTONEN, Scott 2887
DROHOMERESKI, Sharlene 2450