politics
Citizens organize forum to educate community on Penticton election issues
PENTICTON - Local citizens are taking the election campaign into their own hands and educating themselves about the candidates and the issues in the upcoming civic vote. Members the community Facebook group Educate Encourage Empower Penticton have organized two candidate forums; one for the candidates for council and one for mayoral candidates. Candidates must RSVP...
Kamloops Imam denounces attacks in Ottawa
KAMLOOPS – Imam Mazhar Mahmood was on his way to the Adam’s Lake salmon run on Wednesday when he heard of the shooting in Ottawa. “I was literally in tears,” he said. Upon his return to the mosque, the tears continued once local Muslims finished their prayers. Mahmood, who manages the Kamloops Islamic Association, said...
UPDATE: Signs point to political scandal in Osoyoos
OSOYOOS – An Osoyoos man thinks he knows why the mayor of Osoyoos has withdrawn his candidacy in the municipal election campaign and he wants to make sure the people of the community are aware. In an email sent to local media outlets, Oliver Betz outlines a trespassing and theft case involving Mayor Stu Wells...
ELECTION 2014: Which candidates will step down from high-ranking community groups?
PENTICTON - A handful of council hopefuls may have to leave their high-ranking board positions with community organizations if they are elected next month. Max Picton, Chairman of the Tourism Penticton board, and Campbell Watt, President of the Chamber of Commerce, have both said they will leave their respected positions if they are successful in...
A little less housing but more happy residents for Scott Avenue
PENTICTON - The residents of Scott Avenue can breathe a sigh of relief knowing an undesired rental property will not be built on their street. Council made a decision this week to nix a plan that’s been in the works for over two years. A third public hearing was held at City Hall Monday night...
Residents will see much-needed infrastructure improvements on their streets
PENTICTON - Residents of Corry Place will see much-needed infrastructure improvements on their street, however council is concerned the cost ratio split between residents and the city could set a precedent for similar projects in the future. Garry Gratton, Corry Place resident and council candidate, spoke to council at Monday night’s council meeting about the...
Development director leaves city job to take over campus position
PENTICTON - The city will lose one of its greatest assets when development planner Anthony Haddad heads north to work on the expansion of the UBC Okanagan campus. Haddad leaves for his new position as the director of campus planning and development at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna, in a few weeks time. Haddad has been...
ELECTION 2014 FORUMS: Time to quiz your candidates
VERNON - Dates have been set for area voters to learn more about their municipal candidates. The Vernon Performing Arts Centre will host two forums, one for City of Vernon candidates and the other for District of Coldstream nominees. Both will provide an opportunity for candidates to state their platforms, and for the public to...
Crowd funding websites weren’t on Elections B.C. radar
KELOWNA – When the B.C. Government introduced new regulations covering municipal election campaign donations in May it appears they didn’t take into consideration the latest, greatest way to raise money—crowd funding. Many candidates taking part in the civic election campaigns across the province have turned to crowd funding websites like gofundme.com or kickstarter.com. Sean Upshaw...
No takers: Olalla water commission gets appointed
SOUTH OKANAGAN - The Olalla water commission race has been deemed a ‘non-election’ since no nominations were submitted for the four available positions. There has been a challenge in retaining elected officials in the Olalla community since 2008, says Christy Malden, chief elections officer for the Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen. It has been difficult...
ARCHER: Do signs mean anything?
If you left your house at all this week, you’ve seen all the election signs that went up after nominations closed last Friday. They come in all sizes and colours, some with photos, others with their catch phrases. They are all trying to catch the attention of community members—the electorate—and make a name for themselves....
Mayoral candidate says his crimes are in his past
PENTICTON - Mayoral candidate Jukka Laurio says his time spent in jail for sexual offence is in the past and people should focus on what he’s doing now to improve the community. Laurio, who announced he was running for mayor of Penticton last week, has a serious criminal record including drug trafficking and possession conviction...
ELECTION 2014: Your Penticton candidates
PENTICTON - Friday was the last day for council candidates to submit their nomination papers and officially lock themselves into the race. There are a few unexpected names on the list — some old faces and some new ones, but mostly the latter. There are three mayoral candidates — Andrew Jakubeit and John Vassilaki, both...
ELECTION 2014: Plenty of choice in Kelowna civic election
KELOWNA – With 29 candidates declared for Kelowna city councillor, the only thing for certain is... there will be a lot of election signs. Candidate nominations closed at 4 p.m. on Friday. Six candidates vie for mayor, 29 for city councillor and nine for school trustee. Former mayor Sharon Shepherd and councillor Colin Basran are...
Jukka Laurio takes second attempt at mayoral seat
PENTICTON - The mayoral race just got a little tougher with local business owner Jukka Laurio filing to become the third candidate. Laurio is no stranger to city politics, having run for mayor in 2011, but he says he’s more focused this time around. “I’m going to give Penticton a job,” he says. He explained...