‘Very thorough process’: ForChange releases list of recommended Kelowna council candidates

There will be dozens of candidates on the ballot for Kelowna city council so a committee reviewed each one and endorsed eight in an effort to help voters parse through the hefty list of contenders.

The ForChange Kelowna committee is made up of business people, former city employees and community leaders. The committee has been reviewing candidates for weeks and just released its list of recommended candidates.

“Consensus doesn’t mean we agreed on every candidate. There were thoughtful disagreements and strong advocates around the table,” committee member Rick Maddison said on the ForChange site. “What mattered was that everyone was heard and that our final recommendations reflected the collective assessment of the committee after a very thorough process.”

The committee has recommended three incumbent councillors: Mohini Singh, Maxine DeHart and Rick Webber.

The committee recommended five new comers.

First on the list, alphabetically, is Les Bellamy. He owns a custom home building company and has been outspoken on issues like the short-term rental ban and the need for a new performing arts centre.

Indy Dhial is an early childhood educator who founded TGP Kids. Dhial also leads five community groups, OKGN Apna Sports and Cultural Society, Uptown Rutland Business Association, Rutland Youth Soccer association and the Kelowna Men’s Soccer League.

Davis Kyle is the youngest candidate on the list at 28 years old. He founded the local Kelowna chapter of Strong Towns and he’s been the vice chair of the Planning Advisory Committee for the Regional District Central Okanagan. Kyle also helped the City of Kelowna set up the bike valet services to reduce bike theft in the city.

Laura Thurnheer is a former Okanagan College associate dean, chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce and she’s a business owner.

Lee-Ann Tiede is the final recommendation. She has been a school trustee for the past 12 years. When she ran in 2022 she had a loose connection with ParentsVoiceBC, an advocacy group that was anti-vax and anti-SOGI. Tiede did vote against vaccine mandates in schools.

ForChange isn’t a slate for candidates, it’s an independent committee that decided to come together to recommend candidates.

“Our recommendations add information for voters. They do not tell anyone how to vote. Please do your own research and make your own choice on October 17,” ForChange wrote.