By a nine-vote margin, Cheryl Graham has been elected the new director for Regional District of Central Kootenay Area E (Rural Nelson).
Graham had 425 votes, compared to 416 for runner-up Landon Veregin. Reggie Goldsbury was third with 133 and Dan Rye, an incumbent Castlegar city councillor, was last with 122.
Incumbent Ramona Faust didn’t run for re-election.
The turnout was 33 per cent.
Area E includes communities on the Kootenay Lake Outlet as well as Blewett.
Meanwhile, in Area G (Rural Salmo), the area’s longest-serving politician was re-elected to another term.
Hans Cunningham had 224 votes, compared to 190 for Anna Bundschuh. Farrell Segall was a distant third with 13.
Cunningham has served as director continuously since 1987.
Turnout was also 33 per cent.
This story has been updated with the revised voting totals.