By James Peters

Kamloops mayoral contender Holland taking his message to the streets

Aug 24, 2017 | 3:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — A fourth contender has filed his nomination papers, and will have his name on the by-election ballot for mayor of Kamloops.

He is Stu Holland, a candidate who says he represents working people whose views may not be getting through to the current council.

While council voted overwhelmingly to oppose the proposed KGHM-Ajax copper-gold mine, Holland says he is unapologetically in favour.

“My top priority, being in the construction and forest industry, is I totally support the Ajax project,” said Holland. “I know the city has been pretty controversial. I read the (SLR Consulting) environmental report that the city had done. I read through that thing word for word, and I think it’s a whole bunch of noise.”

“The people of Kamloops, there are some that are having their points viewed by city council. But there are a lot of people, I don’t think it is. To me, they got a little wishy-washy with (the Ajax issue). They held the vote — they should have waited until the by-election was over before they held a vote of that magnitude.”

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Holland’s bio lists further priorities as maximizing the city’s potential as a transportation hub, borrowing from Medicine Hat’s successes to address homelessness, and developing a wind farm in partnership with local First Nations.

The former logger and road-builder says he was compelled to run in the run-up to the spring provincial vote.

“What really jarred me was the last provincial election when the previous mayor (Peter Milobar) and the council member (Donovan Cavers) decided to run in the provincial election,” said Holland. “I strongly believe that if the voters of Kamloops elected them to hold office and represent them, they should have waited until they served their terms.”

Holland joins Ken Christian, Bill McQuarrie and Todd McLeod as confirmed mayoral candidates whose names will be on the September 30 ballot.

Even so, don’t expect to see any ‘Holland for Mayor’ signage throughout the city.

“I’m not going to spend anybody’s money, putting campaign signs all over,” said Holland. “I’m going to hit the streets in every corner of the city of Kamloops. I’m going to talk to the business community, the church groups, people that work with drug and alcohol addictions in the city of Kamloops. The homeless people, I’ll talk to them directly as well. And the working man.”

Reo Rocheleau and Leonard Seigo have previously stated their intentions to run, but have yet to file paperwork.

Candidates have until 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 25, to file their candidacy paperwork at Kamloops City Hall.