Bloomfield says crime and homelessness major issues
Only 147 votes. That was the difference between Dan Ashton and Julius Bloomfield back in 2011, which, in politics, seems like an eternity.
Bloomfield was coming off a provincial campaign for the Green Party, where he was quickly elevated to the position of deputy leader. He was president of the Downtown Penticton Association and had a high profile in the community. Without any previous council experience, he challenged for mayor and barely lost in what was a four-way race.
“It was disappointing, but it made me realize you should serve your apprenticeship,” Bloomfield said, Monday, reflecting on his one-and-only mayoral campaign.
Due to a change in interests and endeavours, he stayed out of the 2014 election, but felt the timing is now right to run for Penticton city council as one of 24 candidates vying for six spots.
“There’s tremendous discontent with this council and a tremendous unease amongst people,” he said.
Born in London, he immigrated to Canada in 1988. A realtor with Royal LePage in Penticton, Bloomfield said crime and homelessness are the major issues in this election.
“They are not just an issue in this city, but in just about every city in B.C. The City of Penticton has a responsibility to coordinate a concerted and joint effort to address the problems. I think there are things that are going to happen, but there’s not one single answer to the problem. It’s ongoing and constant care will have to be given to the situation.”
When asked about his political leanings, Bloomfield describes himself as “a pragmatic Green,” noting, “As a society, we have to live on the planet and there’s a lot of us. On social issues, I lean to the left and on economic issues, I lean to the right.”