No changes at Merritt City Hall as Goetz and council returned to office by voters

The voters of the City of Merritt have spoken and there will be no changes around the council table following Saturday’s Municipal vote.

Incumbent Mike Goetz was returned as mayor and he will joined by councilors Yvette Baxter, Wendy Charney, Dana Egan, Adam Etchart, Manuel Olguin and Paul Petrozci.

Goetz earned 71.9 % of the votes cast with 1249 votes, while challenger Gordon Keyser garnered 466 votes. In the 2022 municipal election,  Goetz tallied 35.93 % of the vote, however it should be noted that he was challenged by former Mayor Linda Brown, then city councilor turned provincial MLA Tony Luck and former councilor Mike Bhangu.

“I’m very excited that the voters of Merritt have put their trust in me and our council to serve another term,” said Goetz on Sunday. “I think I speak for all of us, that we are honored to serve the citizens of Merritt.”

For the third consecutive municipal election, Adam Etchart was the highest polling councilor receiving 1420 votes (81.8%). In 2018, Etchart  garnered 75.9 % of the decided vote in his first foray into municipal politics,  then re-elected in 2022 with 71.6 % in an election that saw 18 candidates vie for six council seats.

“I think people are seeking stability and trust in their municipal government and I believe this current council offers just that,” said Adam Etchart. “I don’t think everything is perfect but overall I think the current council is trying their best for the community.”

Paul Petrozci earned the second highest number of votes, 1213, followed by Manuel Olguin (1098), Dana Egan (1095), Yvette Baxter (1075) and Wendy Charney (1041).

For Yvette Baxter, it was her third election since 2022. She was unsuccessful in her first attempt in 2022, however gained a seat on city council in a byelection that was held in 2024 following the death of Claire Newman.

“I’m very excited to be again sitting at the council table for the next four years,” said Baxter. “We have a great team who has put in a tremendous amount of work over the past term, and we want to continue it with a new mandate.”

Former city councilor Melvina White who served from 2018-2022, failed in her attempt to regain her seat she lost in the last 2022 election. White received 800 votes while newcomer Steve Pimm tallied 560 votes.