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Federal Election

Tourism Kamloops CEO seeks federal Conservative Party nomination

Feb 12, 2021 | 4:06 PM

KAMLOOPS — Tourism Kamloops CEO Beverley DeSantis is seeking the Conservative Party of Canada nomination in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.

DeSantis says she’s been behind the scenes in the past, managing campaigns, but she now feels it’s time to step out and be a voice for small business and tourism.

With long-time Conservative MP Cathy McLeod signalling she won’t run again, DeSantis is hoping to carry on her work for the community.

“If I can do the work that she’s done and continue that, I would be happy to step into those shoes and move it forward from here,” DeSantis said. “Cathy is also a great mentor and looking forward to the next stage in her life. She and I have had conversations as you would with a person who’s got her experience and I hopefully can call upon that experience moving forward.”

DeSantis says the Conservative Party’s values line up with her own, but she says the duty of elected officials is to work with the community as a whole, regardless of party.

“What has resonated with me is what’s happening down south, in our neighbours to the south, and what happens when parties do not cooperate and collaborate,” she said. “When you are elected you work for the people as a whole and as a community and knowing that you are elected to the Conservative Party is one thing, but to speak for the people in your whole constituency is most important to me.”