Art Jonasson to serve second term as Reeve of West Interlake

After a successful first term as Reeve of the Rural Municipality of West Interlake, Arnthor Jonasson -- call him Art -- will serve another.

Jonasson was acclaimed as nobody stepped up to challenge him. He says his first term was a memorable one and he's hoping the next term will be one with fewer weather issues.

"We had ice storms to fires to droughts to floods, so it's been an interesting four years," says Jonasson. "We are looking toward developing a strategic plan for our municipality. We got a lot of work done the last four years, but I think we can do better, and we are engaging Community Futures to do a strategic plan for the whole of the RM of West Interlake. I'm looking forward to that."

While there will not be a vote for Reeve, there will be a vote for one of the council positions. In Ward 1, five candidates have stepped forward. Voters will decide between Raymond Bazinet, Keith McLelland, Paul Murphy, Penny-Anne Wainwright and Walter Whiteside. In Ward 2, John Bezemer and Lyle Finney were acclaimed, as were Randy Helgason and Edith Peterson for Ward 3. Karen Carmichael, Trevor Emilson, and Stefan Jonasson were acclaimed for the Ashern LUD Committee.

"I look forward to dealing with the next council. I know a lot of the members that are being acclaimed back on. They're very dedicated community people," says Jonasson. "I just wish all the candidates that are running in ward one, I wish them good luck, and I look forward to hearing them at the town hall debates coming up."