Elections, candidates and video tape

NEWS/ CIVIC ELECTION 2014 — Kamloops voters have a new way of finding out what City council candidates stand for.

The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce has been busy interviewing candidates and video-recording their responses. Those responses are now posted on the chamber’s website for the public to view.

The chamber first asked its members for feedback, with the executive deciding on three questions for candidates.

“We believe that voting in a strong council is a lot more than just name awareness,” said Aleece Laird, president of the Chamber’s board of directors.

“For our members, it was important to not only ask business-related questions they care about, but also to give them the convenience of being able to watch videos of the candidates at their leisure.”

“We want the public to know how candidates feel about issues that are important to us,” said Brant Hasanen, chair of the chamber’s municipal campaign issues task force.

The questions posed to the candidates were:

1. Fiscal accountability – Working with other councillors, City staff and the community, what steps or actions will you take to move the City of Kamloops toward stronger fiscal accountability?

2. Business attraction and growth – In viewing Kamloops as a vibrant business community, what actions or steps will you take to enhance business attraction programs and opportunities for the city to achieve goals in such areas as creating greater economic diversity and depth; enhancing business practices; and promoting growth opportunities for existing businesses?

3. Community engagement – How will you work to create greater community engagement in City management for and with your constituents such as: getting more input into development; marketing; arts and other aspects of community building?

Candidates’ responses will be available to view as they are recorded. To view those that have been recorded so far, click here.