In the two rural municipalities that surround Yorkton, one has experienced a bit of a shakeup on council while the other has maintained the status quo.

To the west of Yorkton, the R.M. of Orkney has a new reeve and one new councillor.

In the October 24 election, Dale Rhinas defeated incumbent Barclay Westerhaug by a vote of 243 to 157. Rhinas, a farmer who ran on a platform of accountability, annual ratepayer meetings and a strategic plan for roads, replaces Westerhaug, a ten-year veteran of the Orkney reeve’s office.

Meanwhile, in Division 1, Gordon Rhinas, Dale’s brother, outran incumbent Donald Haacke for one of three council seats at stake.  

In Divisions 3 and 5, incumbents Dale Hackman and Vern Effa retained their seats by acclamation. Divisions 2, 4 and 6 were not contested this time around due to changes in the Local Government Elections Act. Prior to 2012, rural municipalities elected councillors every year for two-year terms alternating between odd and even divisions. Reeves were elected with the odd-numbered divisions.

Randy Trost, Shirley Cole and Robert Kriger, elected last year, will round out the council table for the next four years.

To the east of Yorkton, the R.M. of Wallace will enter the next four-year cycle with the same council as it had leading into the election.

In the only contested seat, Division 5 incumbent Ervin Stricker defeated challenger Richard Purves by 67 votes to 36.

Reeve Garry Liebrecht was re-elected by acclamation as were Division 1 councillor Barry Novak and Division 3 councillor Dale Cherry.

Sid Wonitowy, Barry Mehling and Keith Kyle also retain their seats until 2016.