Councillor Nadia Clarke confirmed that she has moved to the Okanagan and will not run for re-election this November at a regular council meeting last Tuesday.

Clarke said she is sad to leave the Nicola Valley but said that she has taken a new job in the Okanagan and the opportunity was one that she and her husband could not pass up.

With about a month left in her term as a Merritt City Councillor, Clarke said she will try her best to make any remaining meetings, but said the two-hour drive would make it difficult.

Clarke has served three terms – almost nine years – as a councillor in Merritt.

In an interview with the Herald in September, Clarke said she feels she has broken many barriers. When she was first elected she was the only woman on council and the youngest. She also said that during her time on council, she feels relations between the City of Merritt and the First Nations people of the Nicola Valley have improved.

“I feel that First Nations people need to be represented at all levels of government,” said Clarke.

“Being on council has opened many doors.”

Though she will not be able to run for re-election in Merritt, Clarke said she will likely be running in the November election in the Okanagan.