Mel Arnold is the Conservative candidate for the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
October 19, 2015 - 8:47 PM
VERNON - Conservative candidate Mel Arnold is the North Okanagan-Shuswap’s new Member of Parliament.
Arnold had a healthy lead right off the bat Monday evening, and while Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz was on his tail, he was declared elected as of 8:30 p.m. with about 40 per cent of the vote. Derkaz stood about 10 per cent behind, at 30 per cent.
Arnold was born and raised on a dairy farm in the Shuswap and operated a marine and RV detailing business for the past 25 years. Arnold has said he will turn the business over to someone else if elected.
Previously, Arnold has served as the president of the B.C. Wildlife Foundation and the governance committee chair for the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Arnold decided to run in the election after Conservative MP Colin Mayes announced he wasn’t seeking reelection. Mayes held the position for three consecutive terms.
Read more background about the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding’s new MP here.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015