Nominations for Lillooet’s Mar. 17 by-election opened only yesterday, but two candidates have already stepped forward to announce their intention to run for mayor.

Former mayor Dennis Bontron and frequent council candidate Ken Rhodes say they want to be mayor, succeeding Ted Anchor, who resigned mysteriously after only a month in office. Local voters will also elect a new councillor on Mar. 17, replacing Kevin Taylor who resigned at the same time as Anchor.

Dennis Bontron finished as runner-up to Anchor in the Nov. 19 municipal election.

Bontron said when he ran for mayor in 2008, he believed there was a specific job to be done. “I thought I had focused quite well on that job and getting things done, but I didn’t take the time to discuss how council was doing things, what it was doing, and why it was doing it,” said Bontron. “That was a big mistake on my part and that needed to be done.

“I know there’s a need to respond differently and I know there’s a need to include input from the public on a regular basis,” said Bontron. “Hopefully, especially since this new group has formed (Pro Lillooet), we will have a pool of people who are interested and willing to participate in a positive manner to carry the district forward as opposed to stopping everything, criticizing individuals and shutting it down.”

He said he has two top priorities:

addressing the flooding situation in Conwayville so people can return to their homes

reviewing the District Office and its operations in light of concerns that came out of last fall’s election. “Is the District Office organized in a manner that’s effective and efficient? Is the District Office responding well to the public?” asked Bontron. “Are there cost savings we can make in how it’s organized, planned and budgeted? And are our salary rates and remuneration totally out of whack with the rest of the world or are we in the ballpark?”

Ken Rhodes has run three times for councillor but has never been elected. After finishing last in the race for four councillor positions in the Nov. 19 election, he told the News he intends to run for mayor in next month’s by-election.

Rhodes said he is looking for two people to nominate him.

“A lot of people have told me they don’t like my beard, so the two people who get to nominate me will get to shave my beard off,” said Rhodes. “It will bring people together for a community event.”

Rhodes said his election platform would include improving communication between council and the public. He also said other previous mayoralty candidates have lacked the leadership skills and “ability and strength to keep people going forward without yelling and screaming.”

While several names have been mentioned in election speculation, Dennis Bontron and Ken Rhodes are the only two people to contact the News regarding their intention to run in the by-election.

Nominations close at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10.