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politics
Sentes decides not to run for mayor; seeks another term as councillor
PENTICTON - She was tempted to run for Pentction mayor but after taking some time to reflect, Coun. Judy Sentes has decided to seek re-election instead. With three council seats definitely empty going in to the race, Sentes says it’s important for there to be a mix of experienced and new councillors around the table....
Council candidate hopes to revitalize downtown core
KAMLOOPS – Small-business owner Tanja Hasler is tossing her hat in the political ring. “This is how I would like to contribute to the City of Kamloops,” she says, adding she would like to see some new faces on council to bring fresh input for the City. If elected, the pet-groomer hopes to improve fiscal...
Have a seat, will you? Three trustees won’t run for re-election
PENTICTON - There's a big hole to fill on the Penticton school board with three trustees deciding not to run for re-election. Linda Beaven, Walter Huebert and Tracy St. Claire have all decided to throw in the towel. “I figure half a century is long enough,” says Huebert who was a teacher for 41 years...
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...
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...
Konanz runs to keep her seat
PENTICTON - Helena Konanz says she wants to continue to improve Penticton’s economy and culture by continuing her reign on city council. "My portfolio for the past three years has been towards economic development and job creation, and I would like to continue to advocate for the business and manufacturing sector of our city for...
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...
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...
North Okanagan-Shuswap Liberals choose their candidate
VERNON – Liberal party members in the riding of North Okanagan-Shuswap chose a candidate for the upcoming federal election at a nomination meeting on the weekend. Cindy Derkaz will carry the Liberal colours in the 2015 campaign. Derkaz has lived in Salmon Arm for 55 years and is best known for work with the Shuswap...
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...
Homophobic, sexist Facebook comments sink Penticton mayoral campaign
PENTICTON – Just hours after announcing he was going to run for mayor in Penticton, Edson Chan withdrew from the race. The 26-year-old posted the news to the Facebook group Educate Encourage Empower #Penticton after members of the forum called him out for homophobic and sexist slurs on his personal Facebook page. In his post...
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...
Tax watchdog running for re-election in Vernon
VERNON – Keeping an eye on how the City of Vernon spends property tax dollars has been Vernon councillor Bob Spiers mission from day one and he plans to continue the mission for another term. Spiers has announced he will run for re-election to council, ruling out a run for the mayor’s chair, which he...
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...