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UPDATE: Incumbents fend off challengers in Areas E and H to re-take Cowichan Valley Regional District seats

Races tight in areas E and H.
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With mail-in and advance ballots now counted, the numbers are in for the winners of the election races in the Cowichan Valley Regional District, with tight races in areas E and H going to the encumbents in both areas.

It was a very tight race in Area E (Sahtlam/Glenora/Cowichan Station), coming down to the wire and the count from the advance polls. Before advance polls were factored in, it appeared Loren Duncan, who served on the board prior to encumbent Alison Nicholson, may have barely done enough to re-take the seat, leading by one with election day polls and mail-in ballots counted. But following the count of advance polls, Alison Nicholson led with 561 votes, to Duncan’s 532. It was after midnight when the race was finally called.

In Area H (North Oyster/Diamond), encumbent Mary Marcotte managed to fend off a challenge from Murray McNab to retain her seat on the CVRD board. Also after midnight, and after the advance poll count, Marcotte came out the victor with 270 votes to McNab’s 261 in a nail biter. Rounding out the candidates in Area H was Bill Carter (108).

Two areas had candidates acclaimed, with Blaise Salmon running unopposed in Area A (Mill Bay/Malahat), and Ian Morrison in Area F (Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls).

In Area B (Shawnigan Lake), incumbent area director Sierra Acton led challenger Bill Savage, 919 votes to 484 votes.

In Area C (Cobble Hill), Mike Wilson topped the polls with 803 votes, to Darlene Davis’s 305 and incumbent Matteus Clement’s 239.

In Area D (Cowichan Bay), incumbent Lori Iannidinardo fended off challenger Dave Fast 610 to 479.

In Area G (Saltair/Gulf Islands) Lynne Smith took the seat with 441, to Rod Smith’s 227, Sean Jonas’s 88 and Lia Versaevel’s 84.

In Area I (Youbou/Meade Creek) incumbent Klaus Kuhn easily won with 282 votes to Gail Dawson-Russell’s 107.

Along with three representatives from the Municipality of North Cowichan, and one each from the City of Duncan, Town of Ladysmith and Town of Lake Cowichan, the area directors form the board of directors of the CVRD.