VIDEO: Former mayoral candidate still helping Kamloops on the sidelines

KAMLOOPS – A video is circulating on social media of a 2014 mayoral candidat picking up litter from the sidewalk in Kamloops.

Ben James says he has been on the street for a year and a half, doing good deeds for the community.

“[I] smash ice and snow in the winter time so people with mobility issues can get across the sidewalks,” James tells Kamloops local Vince Austin, in the video. “The City is not doing it.”

Austin’s video, which he posted to Facebook yesterday, Aug. 19, shows James revealing a water bottle full of needles he says he found in the parks.

James has made local headlines before. In 2013 Kamloops Daily News recognized him for his efforts cleaning up needles.

Then the following year James ran for Kamloops mayor because, “I’ve got nothing else to do.” He finished the 2014 election with 4.78 per cent of the votes, sliding ahead of Dallas Paisley at 3.61 per cent.

James told iNFOnews in a phone interview that he will not be running for mayor in the upcoming October elections. 

In the video James suggests a rumour that a media outlet ran a story about giving him a new mop and bucket, we could not find this story.

“I do it anyway for the pleasure of the community, I enjoy helping out,” James says.

When Austin asks him if there is something he would like to say to the people of Kamloops.

He replied, “Don’t litter.”

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