SRD Reelects Baker Chair, Sinnot new Vice-Chair

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, November 8. Provincial legislation requires regional districts to annually elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair for a one-year term at the first meeting of the Board after November 1.

Campbell River is the biggest city in the SRD and elects 5 of the 14 Directors serving on the Board. One of the Campbell River Directors has served as Chairman or Vice Chair since 2016.

Prior to that Director Jim Abram of Quadra Island served as either Chair or Vice Chair from 2012 to 2015,as well as 2010. He is the only Director from the four rural areas to hold either of these offices since 2008.

Last term Mark Baker, Mayor of Campbell River, and Councillor Ron Kerr of Campbell River were elected.

Senior Manager Thomas Yates called the Novermber 8 meeting to order:

“Welcome directors. We'll call the November 8, 2023 inaugural meeting of the board to order. And we'll mention that Director Davis is participating remotely. And we do have a quorum. And moving into the agenda. We do see that the first item of business is the election of the chair. And in accordance with your procedure bylaw, we will take nominations from the floor for the position of Chair.”

Campbell River Director Doug Chapman, said, “I nominate Director Mark Baker for Chair.”

Campbell River Director Ron Kerr, responded, “Second.”

(One of the things that Chair Baker brought to the board was a strong sense of humor.)

Yates: “Director Baker, would you accept that nomination?”

Director Baker: “Pause for effect. Yes, please. Thank you.”

Yates: “Are there further nominations for the position of Chair?”

After a brief interval he added, “For the third and final time. are there nominations for the position of chair? Hearing none? I will declare that director Baker has been elected chair for 2024. Thank you.”

(Clapping)

Yates: “And before Director Baker assumes the chair's position …”

(It is difficult to make out what Baker said, but the board erupted in laughter.)

Yates: “ … We’ll ask for nominations for the position of Vice Chair for the board?”

Director Kerr: “I'd like to nominate Director Sinnott for Vice Chair.”

Director Chapman: “Second.”

Yates: “Director Sinnot, would you accept that nomination?”

Campbell River Director Susan Sinnot: “Yes, I will. Thank you very much.”

Yates: “ Are there further nominations for the position of Vice Chair?”

“For the third and last time, any nominations for vice chair position? Hearing none, I will declare Director Sennett elected as Vice Chair. (Clapping) Thank you very much. I will now relinquish the chair to your recently elected chair, Director Baker.”

Chair Baker: “Thank you very much. I want to say thank you very much to the board for giving me this second opportunity.”