Vernon task force chair ‘considering’ running for mayor

VERNON – Until recently the name Darrin Taylor wasn't well known in the city of Vernon.

Taylor was thrust into the media spotlight as chair of the Activate Safety Task Force, which presented it's recommendations to Vernon city council last week, including a controversial ban on shopping carts on public property.

The 53-year-old addictions counsellor is the first to admit he's not well known, but points to the fact that he's been a business owner in Vernon for 25 years, is heavily involved in his church and sits as on the board of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. The former owner of Mail Boxes Etc. — which is now the UPS store — Taylor moved to the city in 1993 from his native Toronto.

His life took a new direction when he headed back to school in 2006 to become a registered counsellor specializing in addiction therapy, a subject close to his heart.

"I almost lost everything to alcohol," he says. He's been sober now for 14 years and currently owns and operates Axis Intervention Services, with offices in Vernon and Kelowna.

A married father of two, it's rumoured that Taylor has political aspirations.

"I've considered running for council," he says "I've been asked to consider throwing my name in the ring to run for mayor."

Taylor won't say whether he will run in this fall's municipal election, but says he wouldn't rule it out.

"If someone else would come forward that I could throw my weight behind that would definitely influence my decision," he adds. "But it's too early in the process to say."

So now that the task force has run its course where does he go from here?

"I've got other interests in this community," he says. He's chairing the chamber's committee for development and economic sustainability.

"There's a lot going on… there are many hot-button issues."

He lists sustainable development, eliminating red tape to attract investment, housing affordability and the growth of jobs.

"It's not sustainable to have young families and educated young people leaving our community to seek employment," Taylor says. "If I can make a difference then I'm going to do something to make a difference."

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