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election
Vernon council candidate has a legacy to honour
VERNON - The latest person to announce her candidacy for a Vernon City Council seat says she has politics in her blood — after all, her grandfather was an Alderman for the city 50-plus years ago. Kari Gares was born in Vernon and has a degree from UBCO in history and psychology. She describes herself...
Former NDP candidate running for council
KELOWNA – A controversial former NDP provincial candidate announced her return to Kelowna politics Tuesday. Dayleen Van Ryswyk says she will run for a seat on Kelowna Council in the upcoming November municipal election. Van Ryswyk, a former NDP candidate for the Kelowna-Mission riding, was forced out of the race after comments about First Nations...
Batman villains and zombie candidates: The Penticton election is getting kooky
PENTICTON - Growing frustrations with Penticton’s political landscape has inspired now two political lampoons, inspired by gold rush heroes and Batman villains. A poster of mayoral candidates depicted as villains from Batman showed up around town Tuesday, and ultimately made its way to Facebook. The poster shows Mayor Garry Litke as the Joker, Coun. Andrew...
Chamber loses Campbell to council campaign
PENTICTON - Council candidate, Campbell Watt will take a leave of absence from his posts at downtown business organizations during his campaign. Watt has requested formal leaves from his presidency positions at the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Penticton Association. If he is elected to council he will fully resign, he says. Both boards...
Former NDP candidate seeks a seat on Vernon city council
VERNON - A former NDP candidate is running for a seat on Vernon city council. Mark Olsen has lived in Vernon for 28 years and wants to give back to his community. The CUPE school support staff president was an NDP candidate in the last provincial election. Olsen believes one of the big issues in...
Sentes contemplating running for mayor
PENTICTON - The mayoral race could get a little heated by the end of the week, depending on whether one councillor decides to follow her peers and run for mayor. Coun. Judy Sentes says her name will be on the ballot, but she's not sure yet if she'll run for council or the mayor's seat....
Litke says election rumours are ‘terrible’
PENTICTON - Mayor Garry Litke is keeping his lips sealed about whether he will run for reelection despite the circulating rumours he does not want to be mayor any longer. Litke will still announce his decision on October 7 — three days before nominations close — whether he will seek more time at the head...
West Kelowna mayor seeking third term
WEST KELOWNA – Doug Findlater has announced he will seek his third term as mayor of West Kelowna in the upcoming election. First elected six years ago, Findlater has been on the West Kelowna District Council since incorporation. According to a press release sent Monday morning, “Doug is seeking re-election because he believes that the...
Empowered Penticton citizens won’t back down from political mission
PENTICTON - A group of citizens want to educate, encourage and empower the people of Penticton. Back in August, Pentictonites congregated on the Facebook page Time For Change Penticton to engage in conversation about how to improve the city. The Facebook group was deleted this week after the page was “hijacked” by member Jennifer Taylor...
Chamber president Campbell Watt will run for council
PENTICTON - Campbell Watt has announced he’s running for a seat on Penticton city council and says his experience in local organizations and the business sector will give him a leg-up in the competition. Watt has entered the race with hopes of making a positive change to the city, for example by finding an easier...
Edson Chan represents young population in mayoral race
PENTICTON - A fresh face is joining the race for mayor of Penticton and he hopes his presence will draw the attention of youths into the world of politics. Edson Chan, 26, was born and raised in Penticton. He says he has paid attention to many of the changes Penticton has gone through and wants...
HELSTON: Local politics are not boring
I’d like you to list the names of your city councillors. Okay, just one councillor. The mayor? No? Then you’re just like I was before I got paid to know. I’ll be honest; I never used to take much interest in local politics. Like many, I considered it boring, small town, no consequence stuff. But...
STAHN: The changing landscape of politics
In some ways it’s amazing to see how the political landscape has changed in recent years and in other ways it’s surprising it’s taken this long. As we watch candidate after candidate step up to throw their hat in the ring of municipal politics, you can’t help but notice the slight shift in how they...
Another candidate in the running for Vernon mayor
VERNON - A prominent local businessperson has announced his intention to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election. Akbal Mund, known for his involvement in numerous local events and fundraisers, says he’s ready to take on a role at city hall. “One hundred per cent of my focus will be looking after the City...
Jamie Morrow wants to be Vernon’s next mayor
VERNON - Another candidate is in the running for City Hall’s top seat. Jamie Morrow, 54, wants to have a hand in shaping the City of Vernon’s future. The events and program assistant for Okanagan College’s School of Business wants to see Vernon continue to grow as a vibrant and healthy community where future generations...
THOMPSON: City focus should be on small business
KAMLOOPS - Yes Ajax is a big issue, but small businesses should be where the city focuses resources according to the most recent candidate to announce he is running for a city council seat. Glen Thompson, 51, moved to Kamloops earlier this year. He has been a community activist for most of his life and...
This is who’s running for city council so far
PENTICTON - There is a growing list of candidates bidding for a spot on city council and there's still almost two months until ballots are cast. Coun. John Vassilaki and Coun. Andrew Jakubeit are both giving up their council seats for a chance at being mayor, and former councillor Wes Hopkin's seat is also vacant....
Labour council lending hand to candidates
KAMLOOPS - Several candidates have received endorsement from the Kamloops and District Labour Council after making it through the first round of interviews. Barb Nederpel, the first vice president of the labour council, says after a round of ‘speed dating’ type interviews with several candidates last week they decided to offer endorsement to Peter Kerek,...
Local musician and Festivals Kelowna coordinator to run for council
KELOWNA – A well-known local musician and programmer of marquee events like Parks Alive, Arts Alive and the Canada Day Festival will run for city council this November. Ryan Donn, 37, will make the official announcement Friday, but has confirmed he plans to file his nomination papers before the October 10 deadline. Best known for...
Vernon councillor seeks another term
VERNON - Councillor Brian Quiring will seek another term on Vernon council this fall. A partner with MQN Architects, Quiring has lived in Vernon since 1993 and served on council for the last three years. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Master of Architecture degree and supports development and construction as an...
UPDATE: Bepple wants back on council
KAMLOOPS - Former Coun. Nancy Bepple stepped down from her council seat in March due to health reasons but Wednesday morning she announced her intention to run in the upcoming election. Bepple said her health is now under control and it will not impact her ability to be serve the city. "It was a chronic...
There’s a passionate new face in the Vernon election race
VERNON - A passionate newcomer determined to put some personality in local politics has announced she’s running for a seat on Vernon city council. Dalvir Nahal, 38, is a first time councillor candidate. Born in India and raised in Vernon, she’s called the city home for the last 36 years. The energetic and candid breast...
ELECTION 2014: Innovation changes everything in this campaign
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Knocking on doors, shaking hands, advertising and putting up signs: If you ran for council anytime before the last 10 years, that’s how you got exposure. If you ran in 2011, you probably added Facebook and Twitter to your arsenal. But this year, candidates have all the tools of a major political party...
Jakubeit tosses hat into mayoral race
PENTICTON - Add Andrew Jakubeit to the list of mayoral candidates for the upcoming election, alongside fellow councillor John Vassilaki. Jakubeit announced Tuesday morning he will run for mayor, which leaves another seat open around the council table. He said his platform will centre on community pride, economic diversity, building a better relationship with the...