ELECTION 2014: Which candidates will step down from high-ranking community groups?

PENTICTON – A handful of council hopefuls may have to leave their high-ranking board positions with community organizations if they are elected next month.

Max Picton, Chairman of the Tourism Penticton board, and Campbell Watt, President of the Chamber of Commerce, have both said they will leave their respected positions if they are successful in the election.

Picton is holding his position until the election results are in, however Watt has taken a leave-of-absence from the Chamber while he’s running.

Both candidates said there's a risk of conflict-of-interest between their decisions made on council and their priorities and the (perceived) expectations of their roles as board members.

The other candidate who may hold a conflicting position is Tim Hodgkinson, Director of the Penticton Hospitality Association. Hodgkinson failed to return several phone calls, emails and text messages asking whether he would keep his association position if elected.

There is no legislation that requires a candidate or council member to give up their community board and association positions, however there are regulations and restrictions on influencing decisions that may benefit the elected individual’s business outside council, as outlined in the B.C. Community Charter.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.