2022 Kamloops mayoral candidates (l to r): Reid Hamer-Jackson, Arjun Singh, Sadie Hunter, Ray Dhaliwal, Dieter Dudy. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: Will next year’s Kamloops mayor’s race be deja vu back to 2022?

Oct 3, 2025 | 12:30 PM

WITH COUNCILLOR MIKE O’REILLY the first challenger out of the gate for the mayor’s chair, the unofficial municipal campaign has already begun — more than a year before voters actually go to the polls.

The two-term councillor was backed by a throng of supporters, including former mayors Terry Lake and Ken Christian, when he made his announcement on the steps of City Hall Thursday.

O’Reilly may be the first to get his name out there, but he’s not the only one who has seriously considered a run at the mayor’s office since this tumultuous term began.

Rumours abound of at least a couple more well-known names who will toss their hats in the ring — one a former councillor and one who has never sought public office in Kamloops before.

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Then there is the possibility that another current councillor or two may express their intentions to be mayor as well, as council seats are often seen as stepping stones to reach the top job.

And there may even be candidates most of us haven’t considered at all.

This all begs the obvious question — is this 2022 all over again?

In 2022, three sitting councillors ran for mayor — Dieter Dudy, Arjun Singh and Sadie Hunter. Former councillor Ray Dhaliwal was also on the ballot.

These four establishment candidates split the votes so fine that the tough-talking anti-establishment candidate, Reid Hamer-Jackson, came up the middle and won.

With this many potential candidates, is next year’s race setting up to go the same way?

Despite the cyclone of controversy that follows Hamer-Jackson around, despite the investigations and lawsuits and sanctions and everything else that has resulted from his time in office, Hamer-Jackson still has a constituency of people who will vote for him.

He still has a base of supporters who feel it’s council and staff who are preventing him from carrying out his mandate and he is not responsible for his own fiduciary ineffectiveness.

After four years, will there be enough of these supporters — and enough other candidates on the ballot — to allow Hamer-Jackson to be re-elected?

Are we prepared for another four years of chaos and contention and embarrassment coming out of city hall?

It’s highly unlikely but stranger things have happened.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.