Dixon tops polls in Delta's school trustee race

Incumbent candidate Laura Dixon watches the election results come in.

Jim Kinnear photo

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Incumbent school trustee Laura Dixon topped the polls for Delta's Board of Education Saturday night (Nov. 19).

Dixon said she was somewhat surprised with the results and admitted her anxiety levels heading into the last few days of the campaign were rising. Last time around in 2008 Dixon and her fellow candidates didn't have to suffer any nerves leading up to election night since they were acclaimed.

But after the final one of Delta 31 polling stations reported its results and displayed them on a screen inside Delta Council chambers, Dixon said she looked forward to being part of the seven-member Delta Board of Education that has a number of new faces.

Following Dixon (9,602 votes) was fellow incumbent Fabian Millat (9,088 votes) who fell short of scoring a “double” with his bid for Delta Council.

Making up the remaining group of elected trustees were:

Dale Saip (8,801)

Val Windsor (8,485)

Nick Kanakos (8,136)

Simon Truelove (7,993)

Donna Burke (7,087)

Incumbents failing to get re-elected were Janet Shauntz and Brenda Bennet-Schneider.

Longtime trustee Gord Masi did not run for re-election.

The three new faces include retired teacher Kanakos, Burke and former Delta Teachers’ Association president Windsor.

“Well, I am extremely gratified,” Dixon said. “Going out to meet the voters and hearing the concern and support for public education, that was so gratifying. People are so dedicated to the school district.”

Dixon added the last group of trustees she served with was a tremendous team, but she looked forward to being part of a whole new group.

“I am looking forward to the next term,” she said. “We have an outstanding team coming on board and I think they will do a great job for public education in Delta.”

Kanakos, one of the new faces on the board said he felt it was an honour to be given the opportunity to serve the public.

“Education has been my life,“ said Kanakos who has taught in the Delta school district for more than 30 years. “And I’ve been working very hard as a teacher and I decided this was an opportunity to give back. And I am very pleased that the people have put their support behind me.”

Wife Jeannie Kanakos, a former Delta Councillor (2005 to 2008) also succeeded in her bid for Delta Council, making them the first husband and wife team in Delta to serve on the two elected groups.

“We’re honoured and thank the voters of Delta,” said Jeannie Kanakos. “It was a really honourable race by all the candidates. It was a lot of hard work.”

The unofficial results on Nov. 19 for Delta School Trustee

(First seven elected)

Laura DIXON  9,602

Fabian MILAT  9,088

Dale SAIP  8,801

Val WINDSOR  8,485

Nick KANAKOS  8,136

Simon TRUELOVE 7,993

Donna BURKE  7,087

Janet SHAUNTZ  5,940

Brenda BENNETT-SCHNEIDER  5,544

Carol JOHNSON  5,458

Carroll ALLAN  4,843

Andy BASI  4,544

Julie SANDERS  4,295

Sue LLOYD  3,919

Malcolm SMILLIE  3,809

Pat DYER  3,542

Brad SHERWIN  3,091

Carleen BAZOWSKY  2,663

Andrew MAAS  2,335

Michael Patrick MACUMBER 2,093

The official election results will be declared by Delta's Chief Election Officer on Nov. 23.