KDLC president Peter Kerek joins race for Kamloops council
NEWS/ ELECTION — Kamloops and District Labour Council President Peter Kerek will join the race for Kamloops City council this fall.
Peter Kerek.
Kerek announced his candidacy today, joining incumbent councillors and a handful of newcomers who have already announced.
He said the Ajax open-pit mine proposal “would forever change the nature and ecology of the Kamloops area.
“It would be a terrible mistake to take such a risky gamble on a development that will have a permanent negative effect on the landscape while providing, at best, a short-term, unsustainable, neutral effect on the overall local economy.”
Kerek said he’s “unimpressed” with KGHM International’s revised site plan for the project, and blasted the company’s public relations efforts, saying it has shown “significant vagueness around the negative health and economic impacts of their proposals.”
Kerek said he will support efficiencies in transportation infrastructure, improved food security and poverty reduction.
Kerek, 41, has a B.A. from UBC and a Journalism degree from Thompson Rivers University. He and his wife have two children.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Thank you for the words of encouragement and support. I am certainly not a one issue candidate, but that doesn’t stop our local media from reporting as though there’s only one issue around here; and, let’s face it, there’s never been a more divisive proposal for the City of Kamloops in our recent history, if ever, so, it does warrant a lot of attention.
I’ve pointed out a few times that the AJAX debate will hopefully disappear one day, but, others just like it are bound to arise, and it’s important that we have folks on council who are willing to wade into these situations, investigate, talk to the experts, consider the sources, analyze, and take appropriate measures to ensure we’re doing what’s best for the citizens of Kamloops.
KEREK ON TRANSPORTATION:
The long-term outlook for infrastructure spending on roads, if we don’t see some change in direction, is not promising. However, many transportation maladies can be remedied if we put more resources into public transit to increase ridership rather than on constant expansion of our roadways.
Of course not everybody’s going to abandon their car and get on the bus. Some people absolutely need a vehicle for work and/or various family commitments that can’t be achieved with our current transit system – especially if you live on the outskirts of town. However, even folks who keep using their vehicle will see benefits in reduced commute times and congestion if we could get more cars off the roads; and they will also benefit from reduced air pollution and other economic stimulus that is currently going towards maintaining the automotive industry.
There are many folks who could and would abandon their cars more often, if not altogether, if the service was better. For most Canadians, their vehicle is the most or second-most expensive asset they own, and it’s a terrible investment that requires constant maintenance and repairs while it continues to depreciate until it’s finally worth nothing. And that’s just the folks who drive. There are so many other members of our communities who cannot drive because they’re too young, or have a disability that prevents them from driving, or simply do not have the skills to drive, or don’t make enough money to afford a vehicle; for these folks a better transit system will have a direct positive impact on their quality of life.
I think I’ve already taken ample space and I thank you for reading this far. I suggest that you please visit my Facebook page “Elect Peter Kerek for Kamloops’ City Council” for other areas of interest that I hope to bring to Council. You can also follow me on twitter @Kerek2014. Many of my articles that I’ve written for the Kamloops and District Labour Council can also be found on their website ( http://www.kdlc.ca ) in either the “Press” or “Interior Worker” sections.
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Peter Kerek would be a super Councillor – articulate, educated, and dedicated to Kamloops. There is no doubt that he cares deeply for Kamloops and all of its citizens — Ajax is in the mix, but he will certainly bring his strategic long-term vision to Kamloops as a city of diversity and promise. I am excited to see someone like Mr. Kerek step forward to run for City Council. In the short term, I am looking forward to watch him debate some of the incumbents — he will impress, and more importantly, he will distinguish himself as an “ideas” person.
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Isn’t he part of the Communist Party Kamloops Chapter? He does read like a good candidate but if he is going to bring communist ideas to city hall then that’s a negative in my books. I will need further clarification on his actual views. Can;t just vote for someone JUST because he/she is anti ajax.
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Reads like a fabulous candidate to me. Love his take on Ajax. Got my vote already.
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He does seem like a good candidate, but you don’t want them to be one issue candidates. There’s more going on in Kamloops besides ajax, although I do like his view on it. It’s nice to see people taking a stance in their profiles.
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I applaud Mr. Kerek for his decision to run for election to the local city council in November. It is also good that that he has an interest in transportation infrastructure, poverty and food. One would hope that he is not a one issue candidate, name nothing else except AJAX.
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