Kamloops city hall watchdog eyes run for council

A newly formed Kamloops city hall watchdog group may see its leader make a run at city council.

Kathrine Wunderlich is at the head of Kamloops Citizens United, which has been making political waves by taking the city to civil court.

After losing the court case, then dropping the appeal, she came out the other side with her sights set on getting elected to city council.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about since the lawsuit and, even before that, the way (city councillors) conducts themselves,” she said. “They need to have some experience (on council), but also some fresh faces, I think.”

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The group was formed in response to the lack of a referendum for the multi-million dollar Build Kamloops projects, but also in response to the dysfunction between the mayor and councillors.

Wunderlich said she doesn’t often agree with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, but suggested he has been treated unfairly and she would be a mediating voice on council.

From a dramatic entrance to council chambers, serving city officials with legal documents in the fall, to a possible council run herself, Wunderlich said running a slate of candidates under one banner isn’t out of the question.

“I’ve had quite a few people approach me,” she said. “But I want to be careful who I run with if we run with a slate.”

Whether the next municipal election would see a political party brought into the fray isn’t clear, but the few attempts over the years to do the same have not seen success in Kamloops.

It was tried as recently as the 2022 election when mayoral candidate Ray Dhaliwal created the Action 22 party, then dissolved it before collecting running mates.

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A local election won’t take place for more than a year, so Wunderlich has time to consider. What’s clear for her, though, is she will step away from the volunteer watchdog group she formed if she puts her name on the ballot.

“It’s an advocacy group. So, in my mind if I run for council, then I would resign,” she said. “I’m hoping I would get their endorsement, but I also would want them to hold my feet to the fire.”