Reid Hamer-Jackson is the third mayoral candidate ahead of the Oct. 15 election (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

REID HAMER-JACKSON

West Victoria St. business owner puts name forward for Kamloops mayor

Mar 8, 2022 | 2:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — A third mayoral candidate has put his name forward ahead of the Oct. 15 municipal election.

Business owner Reid Hamer-Jackson, who runs TRU Market Auto Sales on West Victoria Street, says he wants change in the city. He initially had planned to run for one of eight council seats, but feels he could make a bigger impact as Kamloops’ next mayor.

“We’ve got to change something around here,” he said. “When people don’t feel safe and people have their businesses locked, I think the whole community needs to be safe. I’ve ran a few businesses and listening to the customer is really important, which are the taxpayers and I just don’t feel we’re listening to the taxpayers for the majority throughout the community, and we’re not holding enough people accountable.”

Hamer-Jackson has been a proponent of helping people get into recovery. He put forward an application to city council for a recovery ranch in Rayleigh, which failed last year. Overall, he wants to clean up the streets in Kamloops.

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“I think we only have 40 recovery beds and I really think we’ve let a lot of people down — people that are affected with addiction and mental health,” noted Hamer-Jackson. “I don’t think we’ve addressed the issues and made people accountable.”

Hamer-Jackson also doesn’t agree with how the city went away from bylaw services to Community Service Officer (CSO).

“You can blame the bylaws and you can blame the hotels, you can blame the school board, but you take bylaws, for instance, I don’t see there was any reason for us to do the exercise we’re doing with the CSOs and all that,” he said. “I know a lot of bylaw people and city staff that are doing a great job, and like they say they can’t police their way out of it.”

Asked why he has a chance to become mayor as a political rookie, Hamer-Jackson says he knows people in the city and is willing to hear people’s concerns.

“Well, I’ve got lots of friends that are politicians and I listen to people. You take VisionQuest. I took 40 people up there — from BC Ambulance Service — and I ask questions. I’m not that smart, but I’ve got a lot of friends that are. If you listen to people, you go from there.”

Hamer-Jackson joins city councillor Arjun Singh and former councillor Ray Dhaliwal as declared candidates.