There may be no more highly anticipated election in the B.C. Interior than Kamloops. While candidates try to win your vote, there are others not on the ballot trying to sway the electorate.

Some have their own platform and announce their opinions loudly, while one largely remains behind the scenes.

Kamloops Critic

Richard Wilbur, a local software developer, launched his blog Kamloops Critic early last year, adding an AI-crafted voice to local city hall coverage. His coverage is not shy about scrutinizing city hall and the latest drama between the mayor and council, but stops short of criticizing Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson.

The blog now offers recommendations for city council candidates, suggesting voters not choose any of the incumbents with the exception of a “cautious” recommendation for Hamer-Jackson.

Coley Ecker

Coley Ecker got involved with local politics during city hall’s alternative approval campaign for Build Kamloops projects, like Wilbur. Through that, she formed Kamloops Citizens United alongside now-candidate Kathrine Blair-Wunderlich, along with a handful of others.

Ecker herself admits being overly sympathetic to Hamer-Jackson when she began, but she has increasingly turned away and now hopes he loses his bid for re-election, adding that there is no consensus among the loosely organized Kamloops Citizens United group.

The group identifies as a local watchdog for city hall and largely focuses on taxpayer spending rather than interpersonal conflicts, and it has not publicly endorsed any candidates.

Arthur Loring

The local businessman has long been known as an advisor to the mayor and was president of the North Shore business association last year. Arthur Loring largely keeps his work with Hamer-Jackson away from the public eye, but he has been integral to the mayor’s attempts at governance, public messaging and his litigation, in lieu of a lawyer.

Loring was also initially part of Ecker’s Kamloops Citizens United group, but they no longer coordinate. He has recently attempted to bolster support for Hamer-Jackson’s motion to council through social media, but his work on the mayor’s campaign is not officially known.

Bronwen Scott

Bronwen Scott is a Kamloops-area resident who has been outspoken about city hall issues for several years. She regularly contributed to the Armchair Mayor blog, acted as agent in a legal effort to oust Coun. Mike O’Reilly from office and, more recently, listed herself as a third-party advertiser in the local election.

An online flyer she is circulating presents short summaries of Kamloops candidates. For council incumbents, their descriptions are briefly stated as, “many problems, few solutions.” The document stops short of a clear endorsement other than warning voters to stay clear of incumbents.

Armchair Mayor

A local blogger, former newspaper editor and former mayor, Mel Rothenburger has a unique perspective on civic politics in Kamloops. He also has perhaps the closest ear to Hamer-Jackson’s musings.

He recently wrote about joining Hamer-Jackson for the mayor’s near-deadline appointment to submit election papers with city hall staff.

His personal experience with the minutia of city hall business offers a perspective most media can’t produce. His website also offers a light touch on Hamer-Jackson, who has become widely known for his dysfunctional approach to governance and numerous accusations of bullying. Although he has not offered any endorsements, he has suggested one councillor, Bill Sarai, resign from the job due to an iNFOnews.ca investigation.

Honourable mention

Kamloops has massive community Facebook groups with thousands of users. Some candidates have found, however, they aren’t able to post or comment within them.

Links to news agencies are hard to find on social media these days thanks to Meta’s retaliation against the federal government, but the Kamloops community groups have a breadth of discussion about local issues, especially city hall.

The people who run those groups jealously guard who can post in them and which candidates get endorsed, creating a local echo chamber that favours a few.