A long campaign is now over, and the voters of Kamloops have spoken

Thank you again to all who supported me, who offered words
of encouragement, and cast their ballot for me

A long campaign is now over, and the voters of Kamloops have spoken.

Regardless of whether you supported me or not, I wish to thank, and congratulate, each and every person who took the time to go out and vote yesterday.  We managed a small increase in voter turn-out, and hopefully that trend will continue the next time we head to the polls.

Yesterday over 6,200 people chose to cast a ballot for me – I offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.  My campaign was clear on the issues I felt were important to our city as a whole, and I appreciate that those things resonated with you.

I also hope that each and every resident of Kamloops can, whether through thought or a personal note, appreciate the efforts one young man took to rally a team of hard working volunteers to see voter turn-out in Kamloops increase. That young man is Will George, Campaign Coordinator, for the Kamloops Vote 50 Campaign.

To the men and women who ran in this election, and to the family members who supported you, THANK YOU being part of this important process!

Finally to Mayor Peter Milobar and our new councillors, no matter where you personally stand on issues you are passionate about, remember that you represent the entire interests of every resident of our city. Your course of action now, is to turn your strengths and passions, into a “Team” effort that will make our community an even better place to live.

Thank you again to all who supported me, who offered words of encouragement, and cast their ballot for me.

Sincerely,

Peter Sharp

We've talked municipal politics, Ajax / KGMH, taxes, jobs and business opportunities, affordable housing, and so much more

The 2014 Election Campaign for Kamloops City Council has been much different than any previous election campaign that I’ve been involved in.

For one thing, rather than a number of all-candidates forums, there were numerous “Candidate Mixers”.  This allowed me, and my fellow council candidates, the opportunity to walk around and mingle with the crowd, discuss municipal politics, what our platform was, and how we’d handle ourselves as elected councilors.  Some of these mixers were well attended and others, regrettably, not so!  In fact, at one event about 15 candidates show up, but sadly, there was not an audience in sight.

For the better part of six weeks each of the candidates, has been out on the campaign trail, asking you to support them with your vote.  I’ve enjoyed each and every day, and the opportunity they have provided for me to talk with hundreds of people about the election, your concerns, and what I stand for.

You’ve asked many questions on just about every topic or concern possible …

from city taxes to the AJAX Mine project … from pay for councillors to where I stand on legalizing pot … and affordable housing to parking meters downtown.

I’ve been interviewed by CHNL News, CBC Radio Kamloops, CFJC TV, Shaw Cable TV, Infotel, Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, the Kamloops Central BIA, and many others. 

It’s been an exciting campaign, which started off slow and built up speed as the days rolled by, culminating in a run of events from November 3^rd right up to this date.

During this campaign, for Kamloops City Council, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people from young first-time voters to young parents, seniors and war veterans, professionals and trades people ... people trying to rebuild their lives ... people from all walks of life.  I also met up with old friends that I haven’t seen for a long time, sometimes years.

We've talked municipal politics, Ajax / KGMH, taxes, jobs and business opportunities, affordable housing, and so much more.  Whatever the people wanted to discuss, I made time for them. 

It’s been a great ride, and I admire all the candidates for putting themselves out there, in the hopes of winning a seat on Kamloops City Council … and most importantly, their families who have supported them.  This of course includes my wonderful wife Dyanne.

I began my campaign several weeks with the following statement:

"Kamloops is open for business, call the Mayor’s office at 250-828-****”.

I have to say that the Canadian Home Builders Association (Kamloops) forum tonight, was without a doubt the best of Kampaign2014. I would also like to thank them for sponsoring the forum, and giving all of my fellow candidates the opportunity to speak, and answer questions posed to us by their members.

I spoke without hesitation that we need the taxes and jobs that the AJAX Mine project will bring -- IF it passes the environmental review.

We need to stop training our youth, at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) for Trades jobs, and then see most of them leave Kamloops for good high paying positions they should be able to get right here. That’s not just my opinion; I’ve been hearing that over and over again since the start of this campaign.

The final week is here and everything we have all been doing to campaign comes down to this ...

Well today's post is not anything to do with me, but simply a reminder of the final events taking place during the final few days of the election campaign for Kamloops City Council.  The following information, has been provided by the Vote 50 Team.

The final week is here and everything we have all been doing to campaign comes down to this. Below are the remaining community election events. 

I would like to thank everyone for the memorable campaign, great communication, and eagerness to assist the Vote 50 Campaign as we aim for 50% voter turnout here in Kamloops. 

When you vote, please follow the steps below;

1) After you vote and leave the polling station, take a selfie with your 'I Voted' Sticker (provided by The City of Kamloops)

2) Tag the photo with the line “It’s Your Turn!” 

3) Then add #Kampaign2014 and @kamloopsvote50

4) Upload it on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter

5) Don't forget to tag your family, friends and fellow businesses/clubs to remind them it's your turn to vote!  

If you have not already please support by financially contributing to Vote 50 as many of the candidates have, buying a T-shirt (min $20 donation), and sending your RSVP for the events. 

November 12^th --Election Event at TRU – All Candidate Meet and Greet

Details: An all candidates meet and greet on Student Street for students to get to know the candidates and get to familiar with voting information for tomorrow’s on campus vote! There will be passport cards which Enactus is creating where students walk around finding out about candidates platforms in order to enter into a draw.  We will also encourage candidates and Vote Ambassadors to walk around campus to talk to student, faculty and administration.

Coordinators: Kamloops Vote 50 Campaign and Enactus. All TRU Vote 50 supporting groups will be given an invitation to attend, have a table, and encourage students to get out to vote! 

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: TRU, Old Main Student Street

Election Event at TRU - Footprints

Details: Right after the all candidate meet and greet, we will be painting footprints from all buildings to the Independent Center in preparation for the advanced poll. 

Coordinators: Kamloops Vote 50 Campaign and All TRU Supporting groups

Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM

Location: TRU, Front of Old Main

Many of the difficulties (or issues) faced by families, can often be traced to a lack of dignity in not having a fulfilling and rewarding job – AND -- one which they can have enough for the necessities of life

Recently KamloopsParents.com asked each candidate, running in the upcoming November 15th Kamloops municipal election, three important questions.  The one that stood out the most for me was, “What are the biggest issues affecting families and youth in Kamloops?”

There are all kinds of possible answers to the question. That said, I believe

many of the difficulties (or issues) faced by families, can often be traced to a lack of dignity in not having a fulfilling and rewarding job – AND -- one which they can have enough for the necessities of life.  To that end, here is my answer.

I believe government must operate with the highest standards of integrity, and serve and respect all individuals.

We have a bright future, with nearly everything in place to expand and grow; now we need new / expanded businesses, paying decent wages, so that individuals and families can set down roots.  That I believe is one of the single biggest issues facing families, and youth in Kamloops today.

TRU Students Union says, "... we won’t be able to include the text you have recently submitted. Sorry for the inconvenience"

There’s just over a week until Election Day in Kamloops, and the questionnaires and public forums, and meet and greets are approaching their end.  I’m am delighted with all the work various community groups and organizations have put in, and with all of the information that our local media has brought to the attention of voters.

The other day, my manager, Alan Forseth happened to come across the TRU Students Union questionnaire that had been posed to Kamloops Council candidates, and which was online on their website.

We advised them right away we had not received their questionnaire, and sent them the responses we would have submitted, asking that they be included with those of other candidates running, regrettably, they indicated that they would not be able to do so, in the following email response we received:

            Peter,

Sorry for the late response. Unfortunately, your submission was not received by he deadline and so we won’t be able to include the text you have recently submitted. Sorry for the inconvenience

We did of course reply with the following message, however, 23 hours later there has been no response from those at the TRU Students Union:

Regrettably, as I indicated in my initial email, your questionnaire was not received for us to respond to; the only reason we realized it was something the TRU Students Union was doing was because of a back-link to our campaign blog from your website. 

It would seem to me, that because of this, an exception could be made, especially as this is an online features, not a printed publication that has already gone to press.

In the interests of fairness, I would ask for a review of your decision, and await your response.

                                                                                                                 

In the interest of making this information available to the students of TRU, and the community of Kamloops as a whole, here are the responses which we submitted on Sunday November 2^nd at 2:30pm

Background and Qualifications:

Kamloops is my home by choice, and it is where my wife and I have resided for over 20 years.

I have served my community as a member of the RCMP, a city councilor, a member of the Thompson Nicola Regional District board of directors, as chairman of our regional hospital district board, plus 15 other committees and local non-profit community groups and organizations.

Through these opportunities I have been able to put my own personal skills to use in a number of ways. More importantly however, I have learned from others how to better serve my community by seeking out the wisdom of others, and then putting that knowledge to practical use. 

Now retired, I believe I have the time, the energy and the desire to be the elected 'representative' for you, on Kamloops City Council. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Priorities:

I am campaigning with a commitment to support employment opportunities for city residents, promoting a healthy environment for business growth, and a return to regular Neighborhood Town Hall meeting for public consultations and input. 

City Council need to do more to engage the business community and residence of our city by holding regular Town Hall Meetings, with business or community and neighborhood associations, for public consultation. This was a regular occurrence during Mel Rothenburger’s tenure as Mayor of Kamloops, and it is one that should be initiated again

Issue #1: Student Experience in the City of Kamloops

I was transferred too Kamloops as a Member of the RCMP, therefore I have no student experience in Kamloops.  However, my wife is a teacher and has taught in Kamloops for 21 years.  My two youngest children went to elementary and secondary school here as well.

Issue #2: Improvements to Public Transit

And that of course does create problems when it comes to affordable housing in the city

For those who have lived in Kamloops for even the shortest length of time, one thing that doesn’t take long to realize is that we have a city as big as Vancouver with a population one tenth the size. 

Despite the fact the city of Kamloops covers several hundred square kilometers, most of the flatter land, suitable for housing, has already been developed.  That can, and does create its own unique set of challenges.

Development now is mainly on the hill areas of the city in developments like Aberdeen, Juniper Ridge, Rose Hill, Dufferin, Bachelor Heights, etc.

All of this of course means higher land and housing costs because of the increased costs for roads, water, sewer, busing, etc.  And that of course does create problems when it comes to affordable housing in the city.

Recently Kamloops This Week sent a number of questions they were seeking responses on.  Two related directly to housing, and so today I would like to share my answers with you.

Affordable housing has been an issue discussed in this campaign. What can the City of Kamloops do to better address this challenge?

Well, as I understand the taxation system required by statute, the City of Kamloops can only collect taxes to cover the budget requirements to run the city and cover expenses approved by council.  It is not in the city's mandate to collect taxes to pay for social housing or affordable housing.  Social housing/affordable housing is a Provincial/ Federal responsibility. 

However, the city can, with the approval of council, give grants in lieu of taxes.  In other words, if an organization like Elizabeth Fry or John Howard Society, obtains funds from either or both levels of government to build a social housing project, then the city could approve a grant equal to the amount of annual taxes due.

How would you balance the city's goal of infilling and densification of residential units downtown with the desire of many to live in outlying areas of the city, on larger lots? 

This question is quite similar to one posed by the Kamloops Central BIA (KCBIA).  I think that the city need to investigate the need for putting in a zoning bylaw that sets land aside for single family development in the downtown core.

What we are now seeing is areas of the downtown being utilized by organizations and people who need affordable housing or social housing -- this is definitely a good thing -- and I am glad to see it happening. 

On the other hand some, in higher income brackets may not wish to build and live in the downtown area without clear zoning in place.  This will likely need to be handled by our city council or maybe a committee of council.

Bottom line?  It certainly needs being looked at, with the possibility of a plan being put in place with the help of citizens at large. 

As for the issue of larger lots, there are already areas of the city where these available, and in my opinion, those should be utilized before any further development areas are added.

As always, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts and ideas, so please feel free to email me at Sharp4KamloopsCouncil@gmail.com

I’m Peter Sharp, councilor candidate for Kamloops City Council.