Kelowna city council hopefuls asked which parties they support
Which political parties do you support?
Question: Absent political parties at the local level, it’s hard for voters to know anything about a candidate’s broad political views. So which political parties do you support at the provincial and federal level? If you won’t say, why won’t you say?
MAYORAL: COLIN BASRAN: Broad political views are not relevant to the day-to-day operations or leadership of a city. Elected municipal-level officials must make decisions based on what is best for the entire community, not one special interest group. We must also be able to work with elected officials at provincial and federal levels who do have different political affiliations. If I brought my personal politics into my role as mayor, I would be unable to forge partnerships with the different parties that at the senior government level making it difficult to access funding and resources for our city.
TOM DYAS: There are no perfect political parties or politicians, but most have good ideas and intentions. As mayor, I would work with all levels of government and political parties to ensure Kelowna receives our fair share of grants and funding. I am a fiscal conservative and a man of integrity with a social conscience, who will strive for a diverse, inclusive and vibrant community. I believe in living within your means and being a good steward of your hard-earned tax dollars. Also, as your mayor, I would be accountable to all the electorates and will set the tone at the top.
BOBBY KENNEDY: I personally like that there is no political party association with municipal elections. That is for the reason that these elections should first and foremost be associated with what is truly best for the city. I support many different political views and, as an entrepreneur, I definitely share a lot of conservative views regarding business. That being said, I also am very social conscious and believe it is our absolute duty to help our people attain the best life they can achieve regardless of income level. But I most of all believe that we need revenue to make any plan take place
BOB SCHEWE: I would describe myself as a small-C, fiscal conservative, with a balance of being somewhat of a libertarian. I do believe in helping the unfortunate with a hand up, but with measured limited handouts so as to encourage their own positive efforts to their own well being. I do not believe in big government which is really just more taxpayers expense with bigger inefficiencies. I do not believe in a police state, but enforcement agencies must still be adequately staffed, outfitted, co-ordinated and directed with common sense policies. I support provincial Liberal, federal Conservative.
CITY COUNCIL LINDSAY BELL: Grey question. When considering the application of my political views in local government it is important to know where provincial party and federal party funding is coming from for our community. I would not want my provincial or federal views to have impact on our community, but I believe strongly in the small business and the values they bring to our community along with investment dollars that provide jobs for our residents. So, I guess my provincial and federal views align with what are community has built itself on, that’s what I support.
KEVIN BOND: I currently do not support any political parties, but I refuse to dodge the question. I was born and raised a young Conservative and have supported them federally all my life. I don’t think I could ever support a federal Liberal government because they simply don’t care about the West. Since I have moved from Manitoba I have voted Liberal provincially, I voted Conservatively provincially in Manitoba, but they are very similar parties. I know for a fact that I would have voted for the Socreds had I lived here in the late eighties and early nineties.
MARK BOYER: Being new to B.C. politics, I was surprised to learn of groups or parties overtly sponsoring candidates. I know some candidates have affiliation to certain parties, but I wasn’t aware of party support. If I had to pick, I would have to say Conservative for both federal and provincial elections.
WAYNE CARSON: At this local level of government, you take funding from whomever is offering regardless of political persuasions. Senior levels of government change frequently and local government needs to get along with all of them. I lean to the right, with social awareness.
GREG DAHMS: At present, I am on the fence when it comes to the parties I support provincially or federally.I grew up Conservative, but when the Conservatives switched to call themselves the BC Liberals (still right wing), I lost respect for their vision. As a business owner, I still consider myself to be conservative. However, I do see the need for social services like health care, education, safety, etc. At this point I am waiting to see how the present terms of government play out before deciding where to place my vote.
MAXINE DeHART: Will not say. That is a personal question that is not relevant in my opinion.
RYAN DONN: I’ve been passionate about being party neutral politically. I added value this term by focusing on building relationships with various levels of government. One of the most valuable connections I made this term is with the Green Party leader, Andrew Weaver. It’s a connection I’ve rarely used, but the three times I did they all led to significant support for Kelowna goals and objectives or on issues that were important to me (such as banning corporate/union donations). As a city councillor my goal is to constantly add value. Being politically neutral allows me the most flexibility as I advocate for Kelowna.
GAIL GIVEN: The reason I choose to participate in municipal government is the absence of political parties. I am able to vote my conscience on all matters, free from the constraints of party platforms. If you want to know who I am and how I make my decisions, the following would be true I will be thoroughly prepared considering all information. I will do the right thing, at the right time for the right reasons. My decisions will be evidence based, practical and focused on reality, not fear-based. I tend to be fiscally centreright and socially centre-left.
CHARLIE HODGE: I still see it through a journalist’s lens. They are all wrong. I am not a die-hard party politic person. I was raised in a Socred home, but as a journalist for 30 years. I was supposed to remain open minded and neutral, so I made a point of doing so. I tend to go with the leader most often as well.
CRAIG HOSTLAND: At 59, political parties still haven’t captured my interest because my ideas don’t fall into such particular constraints set out by their membership conditions. I understand the fundamental benefits of political parties and that they assist to mould societal thinking towards certain limited positions that can be addressed by certain economic and social theories, but to me, they fail on so many other levels. I do not have an interest in defining my thinking within one of the mainstream political parties and I have no interest in starting another one. So read my platform and CV for my non-political views.
GRAEME JAMES: I am a small-C conservative with a social conscience.
AMARJIT SINGH LALLI: My belief is that there must be a balance between social and political power. Always align yourself with the truth and not the party because the truth might be with one party today, but with another tomorrow.
GORD LOVEGROVE:I do not donate to, nor am I a member of, any provincial or federal political party. I vote based on platform, leader, and candidate qualifications. In the last federal election, Stephen Harper’s erosion of Canadian environmental protection policies lost my previously conservative vote. Last provincial election, the Liberals lost my vote because of their non-transit focus and proposed double-stacking Highway 97 through the heart of Kelowna. Candidates must work for connecting our community, and protecting what we hold dear — our loved ones, neighbours, environment, farms, and businesses — our sense of community, the foundation for a resilient, thriving Kelowna.
JEFF PIATTELLI: No comment. I judge people based on what kind of person they are, not which political party they associate with.
MO RAJABALLY: The Okanagan is Tory country. I remember it was at least 50 years before another party got elected federally or provincially. If any of us running for council were openly Liberal or NDP, would voters support us? So far once elected on council, it is all over for anyone else for years. Money is in the bag!
DUSTIN SARGENT: My level of interest in municipal politics is largely based on the fact that it is non-partisan. When representing and advocating for an inclusive community, I would prefer to think we could resolve problems past, present and future without party policies potentially interfering. Democratically of course, with the eight council members and mayor.
BRAD SIEBEN: The rise of organized municipal political parties has not occurred to a great extent in Kelowna and I believe this is healthy. I could not tell you the political affiliation of my current council colleagues (with the exception of Tracy Gray – running for the Conservative nomination) and this is positive. If the objective of this question is to suggest that federal and provincial party politics permeates into city council, this is not the case. Council needs to be able to work with whichever party is in power provincially and federally. Municipal alignment with a specific political party is not in the best interests of the city.
MOHINI SINGH: I tend to support the individual versus the party. Voting is personal and I like to keep it that way. I respect a cross section of views and perspectives on issues. I believe our democracy can only be successful when we have an open and respectful dialogue with all stake holders at the table.
LUKE STACK: I have supported both conservative and Liberal governments over the years. I prefer to support local candidates of any political stripe based upon their character and skill set. To me, the MP’s or MLA’s character is more important than their party policies.
STEF VAN MEETEREN: Did not reply.
LOYAL WOOLDRIDGE: Non-partisan governments allow voters to support individual candidates based on their values rather than a political party’s. This brings much more diversity and objective debate in the decision-making process. Often, provincial and federal government choices are based on party leaders rather than what a representative brings to the riding. Personal political preferences play no role in municipal decision making. As elected officials, we are responsible to work with the government of the day and must maximize our relationship to better the community of Kelowna. As candidates, we are responsible to meet residents and share what we can offer the community.
--Monday: If the city were to unexpectedly receive a grant of $50 million that could be spent any way council chose, how would you advocate the money be spent? Tuesday - Oct. 19: West Kelowna mayoral and city council candidates; Central Okanagan School District candidates.