Campbell Watt for mayor would be a ‘bright’ idea

The speculation of who will be running for mayor of Penticton in the Oct. 20 election has begun, thanks, in part, to a recent front-page article by Joe Fries in The Herald.

Incumbent Andrew Jakubeit has declared his intentions. Jason Cox, Max Picton and John Vassilaki are all other possibilities, provided someone doesn’t come out of the woodwork. Jake Kimberley’s name also surfaces from time to time.

I’ve attended at least 50 per cent of the Penticton council meetings since their term began in November 2014 (I’m not there as often since I took up new duties in Kelowna). After analyzing the performances of councillors at Tuesday night’s meeting, I feel the person who would make the best mayor for Penticton would be Coun. Campbell Watt.

A contentious issue arose involving a large retaining wall, built without a proper building code. Council made the gutsy decision to have the builder fix the wall.

Watt had the courage to speak first and the others seemed to take the lead from him.

“I don’t think it’s our responsibility to pay for a mistake, when it’s not our (mistake). We are in the position where we have to follow our bylaws,” Watt said.

Watt is at the perfect age to be an effective politician — his mid-40s. He has business experience as one of the city’s top mortgage brokers. Earlier in his working career, he was an assistant golf professional.

He’s honest, approachable, likeable, educated, and offers common sense. He’s never boastful or arrogant. Prior to running for council (he finished second of 25 candidates in 2014, with six being elected), he built up a profile as president of both the Penticton Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Penticton Association. He was named Business Leader of the Year.

When the Skaha Lake Park waterslide fiasco began to blow up, Watt requested a special meeting and made a motion to reconsider. He couldn’t find a seconder among the six other members of council.

This column is extremely presumptuous, because Watt may not want the job. He runs a successful business and also has a young daughter.

But, based on the talent pool at City Hall, of the existing members of council, he would be the best person to lead the city for the next four years.

While on the topic of the Great Wall of Penticton, the major issue to come out of City Hall on Tuesday night, the lone dissenting vote was cast by Picton, who said he was looking at a “compromise” between the two neighbours.

This was “A Tale of Two Cities.” Paul Braun, a panhandler, has been ordered to follow city bylaws. They’re taking him to court for unpaid fines. But, a successful contracting company is allowed to ignore bylaws — bylaws, which they should have known.

I don’t understand Picton’s logic. There’s definitely a double-standard there.

Jam Master J from Run DMC was gone far too soon.

James Miller is valley editor of Okanagan Newspaper Group and managing editor of The Kelowna Daily Courier. To contact the writer: james.miller@ok.bc.ca or phone 250-470-0741. Opinions in this column are his own.