Former Penticton councillor John Vassilaki seeking the mayor’s chair

PENTICTON  – A well known, former Penticton city councillor has announced his intention to seek the mayor’s chair in this year’s municipal elections.

With local musician Kyle Anderson belting out tunes from the 70s, long time Penticton businessman John Vassilaki made the announcement of his intention to run for mayor on the front steps of City Hall in front of approximately 100 people this afternoon, Sept. 6.

Vassilaki, who ran for mayor during the 2014 municipal election and lost to Andrew Jakubeit, served as city councillor two terms ago.

Among his qualifications, Vassilaki said he has 50 years of business experience and 12 years of work in the civil service.

“I’m a person who’s not only interested in the next four years. I want my leadership and decisions to always have a long term effect for future generations,” he told the enthusiastic crowd, calling himself “a man of values” whose personal mission was truth, integrity, learning and family.

Vassilaki promised to dedicate his time as mayor to community safety, prosperity and community assets, as he revealed three planks in his platform.

He said crime in the city has reached “unacceptable levels” with professional thieves patrolling the city’s back alleys, adding he understood the province was also experiencing an epidemic of homelessness and mental health issues.

“We won’t be successful in social initiatives if we don’t put our foot down on premeditated crime,” he declared.

Vassilaki said out of 29 regions in British Columbia, Penticton’s household income was in the bottom five. He said residents didn’t have to give up prosperity to live here, vowing to create a new industrial area, recruitment of new, clean businesses and ensuring Penticton has appropriate housing. He said he would also find a way to leverage use of resident’s talents for the betterment of the city.

He referred to the Skaha Lake Park proposal and present council’s attempt to lease beach front to a private business and called for an open review of the city’s assets with residents.

The contest for mayor has become a three way race with Vassilaki’s announcement, as incumbent Mayor Andrew Jakubeit and Penticton businessman Jason Cox have also announced their intentions to seek the mayor’s position.

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