Ahead of the Oct. 17 municipal election, CFJC Today asked candidates for Kamloops City Council to complete a questionnaire, offering voters the chance to evaluate their candidacies.
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Describe yourself, your professional background, and why you’re running for public office in Kamloops?
By trade I am an electrician with 20 years in the industry. These days I work off the tools as a labour organizer for IBEW Local 993. Every day I get to advocate for workers, negotiate between different groups, and help strengthen unions across our community. I also proudly serve as second vice president of the Kamloops and District Labour Council.
The most important skill I have learned as a labour organzier is how to sit at the table with people who see things differently and still build relationships and find common ground. Through this experience I have also trained and have experience in how to run and participate in council meetings.
I am running for city council because the working people of Kamloops, whether employees or small business owners, do not have a strong enough voice at the council table. The people who build this city, care for it, and keep it moving deserve someone there who understands their lives. That is why I am running under the title ‘A Working Voice, for a Working Kamloops’.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the City of Kamloops and how would you use your elected position to address it?
The biggest issue is affordability, and this does not mean only fair wages and lower taxes. Affordability is deeply tied to the health of our community: diverse and stable social services, healthcare access, housing for every stage of life, and reliable transportation. Too many people are asking whether they can afford to stay here, whether they can build a future here, and whether the city will have their back if something goes wrong. Those are fair questions, and residents deserve honest answers.
The city has grown significantly over the past decade but so has homelessness. More people than ever need mental health and addiction support, and right now those services are stretched thin. As a councillor, my job would be to bring everyone to one table: the province, Interior Health, the RCMP, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, and frontline agencies like ASK Wellness. The Journey Home strategy already gave us a shared direction. What has been missing is accountability, consistent follow-through, and diverse services.
Housing alone is not enough. People need a pathway from the streets to recovery: mental health care, addictions treatment, income support, and life skills. I will advocate for more permanent supportive housing, more detox and treatment spaces in our region, and teams that pair health workers with police, so calls involving mental distress end in care, not jail cells. I will also be honest with residents: neighbourhoods deserve safety and cleanliness, and looking after our most vulnerable is part of the same solution. Labour, affordability, and social supports are not three separate conversations. They are one conversation, because a city is only as strong as the people who live and work in it.
Following a term highlighted by infighting and tension at city hall that impacted Kamloops’ public image, how would you ensure civil discourse and good governance would take place between yourself, fellow elected officials and city staff?
I have spent years sitting across the bargaining table from employers. You do not get a fair deal by arguing. You get it by preparing and listening but also standing firm on what really matters. I have also learned how to run and participate in council meetings, and how to build relationships with people who see things differently.
I would bring these experiences and discipline to council. I would treat every elected official with respect, disagree on the issues without making it personal, and support city staff by giving clear direction and trusting their expertise. Council decisions shape people’s lives. Residents deserve a council that debates openly, decides clearly, and explains its reasoning, not just its result.
I know this term has been difficult for the public image of city hall. Trust is rebuilt by conduct, not promises. I will hold myself to the same standard I expect from others: show up prepared, speak plainly, and put the community’s interests ahead of politics.
Considering recent years of large municipal tax increases in Kamloops, how would you address the city’s tax rate going forward?
Taxes pay for the services residents count on, so I will not pretend there is an easy fix. But people are feeling squeezed. Seniors are struggling, and so are working families. That should not be the case in a city as vibrant and prosperous as ours.
I will push for budgets that keep tax growth near the rate of inflation. If an increase does happen, it should be tied to a service or project that people can see and feel the benefit of. I will also support a budget process that questions every expense and finds savings before asking for more, and I will push for provincial and federal dollars for big-ticket items like roads, water, and sewer, so the burden does not fall entirely on property taxpayers.
Affordability also starts with housing, and housing starts with speed. The biggest cost I hear about from builders is time: months of permitting, outdated zoning, and fees that pile up before a single foundation is poured. I will push for faster permit approvals, simpler rules for secondary suites, and a review of development cost charges, so they do not price out the people who need these homes the most. Less red tape and predictable fees keep the city open for business, and that keeps Kamloops affordable.
Underlying all of this is responsible growth. Growth is vital for a city of our size, but it needs to occur in the right places, connect to existing systems, and be built to last. I live in an area of Kamloops directly affected by a lack of forward planning for existing residents, and I know people in other parts of the city feel the same frustration. We need to maintain our infrastructure and grow our communities without leaving anyone behind. Well-planned growth that is properly integrated into the systems we already rely on keeps taxes predictable and protects the services people count on.
As major infrastructure projects are on the horizon in Kamloops, how would you prefer the city go about gaining the electorate’s approval – via referendum or the alternative approval process (AAP)? Why?
The alternative approval process has its place. It was brought in originally to build essential projects, and it can work well for smaller items where a quick decision is needed. But for major spending, its use can leave residents feeling like a decision slipped past them. The AAP relies heavily on residents knowing about it and taking action within a short window, so it can miss people who are not online or do not follow city channels. My priority is trust. Whatever process the law allows, I would make the case publicly, answer questions, and let the community decide knowing the full picture. If we cannot show people a project is worth it, we should go back to the drawing board.
What are your thoughts on communication between the City of Kamloops and its residents? Are there areas of improvement you’d like to see?
Communication is improving, but the city can do better at meeting people where they live. Online tools like the Let’s Talk Kamloops page are useful, but they miss residents who are not online or do not follow city channels.
Real transparency means information people can actually find and understand. And it means a council that explains its reasoning, not just its result. I would push for more in-person engagement, including town halls at times working people can actually attend, plain-language notices about projects and budgets, and clear reporting on what council heard and what changed because of it.
People are not tired of being consulted. They are tired of feeling unheard. My focus would be making sure residents can see how decisions are made and know their input mattered.
