Wednesday January 9, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Hey look! No hands Levi Hollatz flies down the hill in front of South Broadview Elementary School. Often during winter weekends, children of all ages spend hours of pleasure sliding down the hill. For many families it is now a winter tradition. JaMes Murray/OBSeRVeR
Kyllo wins Liberal nomination
B.C. election: Sicamous councillor defeats four other contenders with a first-ballot victory.
By Martha Wickett OBSeRVeR STAFF
Sicamous gets the nod once again. Greg Kyllo, a councillor with the district of Sicamous, garnered strong support Saturday for his bid for the liberal nomination in the Shuswap riding, winning on the first ballot. Kyllo claimed 330 of the approximately 600 ballots cast. He will be the Shuswap liberal candidate in the next provincial election, replacing long-time MlA and Sicamous resident, George Abbott, who is retiring. Kyllo defeated four other contenders, including former Salmon Arm mayor Marty Bootsma, former Spallumcheen mayor Will Hansma, Salmon Arm business
person Jordan Ross and former Bc Wildlife Federation president Mel Arnold. “Obviously I’m humbled and honoured and looking forward to the opportunity to represent the great communities of the Shuswap,” he told the Observer. Kyllo is the president and owner of Twin Anchors Marine Group, which builds and rents houseboats. nine years ago, Greg and his brother Todd expanded the business into TA Structures that specializes in constructing worker accommodations and offices for the oil, forestry and mining industries. “It’s a testimony to the Bc liberals that we had five great candidates come forward,” Kyllo said, noting all their efforts during the campaign doubled the liberal membership in the riding to a little
over 1,200 members. He said he thinks any of the other candidates could have done a fine job of representing the constituency. Why him, then? “I think my age is a good fit,” Kyllo says. “George (Abbott) was 44 when he was elected and I’m 44 now.” He notes he worked hard for 25 years to grow Twin Anchors, and now is ready to work till he’s 70 or so. His experience, he says, has included opportunities to develop job training, skills training and economic diversification. Because Kyllo is a councillor with the district of Sicamous, he thinks he will have to take a leave of absence when the election writ
This week The New Year’s baby is making progress after being flown to hospital in Vancouver. See A5. Take a look at Observer photographer James Murray’s top picks from 2012 on A10.
See Kyllo on page A2
JaMes Murray/OBSeRVeR
Passing the torch: Retiring Shuswap MLA George Abbott congratulates Greg Kyllo on winning the BC Liberal Party candidacy for the Shuswap riding.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............. A10 Sports............... A13-A15 Arts & Events ... A16-A17 Time Out................... A18 Vol. 106, No.2, 36 pages