For as long as I can remember Dan Ashton has been the chairman of the RDOS (Regional District Okanagan Similkameen). In 2005 while still a city councillor in Penticton, Ashton was the chairman of the Regional District. Once elected Mayor he continued to be chosen at the regional board.

Now something has changed.

Ashton has been nominated as the Liberal candidate in the next provincial election so the rumbling is: a change is in the offing this Thursday when his leadership is tested.

The regional board is made up of seasoned rural directors like Princeton’s Brad Hope, Oliver rural director Allan Patton and Osoyoos’s Mark Pendergraft. The municipal side has many people with experience including Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells, Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino and Oliver’s Mayor Ron Hovanes.

Hovanes says he will run if nominated. Mayor Wells was interested in the job but now says he is supporting Hovanes as a number of people are. Wells says it is inappropriate of Ashton to run after getting the Liberal nomination. Wells has high praise for Ashton’s control of a meeting but says it’s time to move forward.

Thursday’s meeting will see a chairman elected. Will there be a change? Does the present chairman have the confidence of 17 others now that he has decided to move up into a new political forum?

We will have to wait.