With four members of the Okanagan Skaha School Board choosing not to run for re-election, it was a foregone conclusion that the new school board would be sporting some new faces in 2012.
In Penticton, the three seats left vacant by former trustees Larry Little, Dave Perry and Tom Siddon will be filled by Tracy St. Claire, Bruce Johnson and Walter Huebert. Incumbent Shelly Clarke, the only Penticton trustee running for re-election, held onto her seat with 3,624 votes.
St. Claire, however, topped the polls with 4,370 votes, followed by Johnson with 3,823 votes. Huebert, who is returning to the board after losing his 2008 re-election bid, garnered 3,114 votes.
With 1,347 votes, Linda Beaven will be replacing Connie Denesiuk, who also chose not to run for re-election, as one of the two Summerland trustees on the board. She will be joining Summerland incumbent Linda van Alphen who was reelected with 1303 votes.
Board Chair Ginny Manning was acclaimed after no challengers came forward for the rural area trustee seat on the board.
In the Okanagan Silmilkameen School District, three trustee candidates were elected by acclamation: Sam Hancheroff, June Harrington and Marieze Tarr. They will be joined by Tamela Edwards (1,023), Myrna Coates (931), Debra Marten (962) and Robert Zandee (874).