What initially looked like a three-way race to replace longtime Regional District of Central Kootenay rural Castlegar director Andy Popoff has turned into an election by acclamation.
Chris Popoff of Pass Creek will be sworn in later this year to represent Area I after Bart Agate and Eric Friesen both withdrew.
Popoff was born and raised in Castlegar and has lived in Pass Creek for the past 23 years. He and his wife Liz have a 16-year-old daughter. For close to 20 years, he has owned and operated Dirty Diggers, a contracting business that now employs 12 people.
“Our roots run deep, and this community means a great deal to our family,” he said. “Being a small business owner has taught me a lot about leadership, working with people, solving problems and being fiscally responsible. It has also taught me that when something needs to get done, you show up, listen, find a practical solution and make it happen.”
Over the past decade, Popoff has served on the boards of several community organizations, which he said has given him “valuable knowledge of local issues” and experience in “advocacy, collaboration and conflict resolution.”
“Most importantly, I have learned the value of listening to different perspectives and working together to find solutions,” he said.
Through his business, he has hosted an event each year at the Pass Creek Fall Fair where kids get a chance to operate a digger. He has also donated in-kind work, equipment, and time to projects including the new basketball court at Millennium Park.
Popoff said he was interested in running for director because he wanted to serve and represent the community, but he did not have a particular platform or specific issues that he would have campaigned on.
He was surprised when the other two candidates dropped out, leaving him to be acclaimed. He said he was approached to run in the previous election, but opted not to. When Davidoff decided he would not seek re-election after serving continuously since 2011, Popoff said he felt the time was right to step up.
Area I is one of three rural areas of the RDCK where the director has been acclaimed, along with rural Kaslo (Aimee Watson is back for another term) and rural Nelson (incumbent Tom Newell has been returned unopposed).
In neighbouring Area J, incumbent Henny Hanegraaf is challenged by former director Gord Zaitsoff.
