by Roy Wood

Osoyoos town councillor Carol Youngberg will not seek re-election in next month’s vote, meaning there will be at least two new members of Osoyoos council when the ballots are counted on October 20.

Councillor Mike Campol announced earlier this year that he would not run for a second term. He has taken a job with the Penticton Indian Band and left town.

In an interview with ODN this evening, Youngberg cited recently toughened conflict-of-interest rules pertaining to realtors in civic government and some personal health concerns as her reasons for not seeking a second term.

She said she made the decision not to run today as she drove home from this week’s Union of BC Municipalities convention in Whistler.

This marks the second time she has made a last minute candidacy decision. In 2014, she filed her papers seeking a council seat on the day before the deadline. That move coincided with Sue McKortoff’s switch from running for councillor to running for mayor after former Mayor Stu Wells decided at the last moment that he would not run again.

Nominations close Friday at 4 p.m. As of this afternoon, there were seven candidates, including two incumbents, nominated for the four available seats.

Check ODN early Friday evening for a complete list of who is running for what in the town of Osoyoos.