POLITICS – Stamer, Giesbrecht launch election bids for Kamloops ridings

Posted on March 15, 2024 in Life, News, Page One // 1 Comment

BC Conservative candidates Dennis Giesbrecht (left) and Ward Stamer at today’s news conference. (Image: Mel Rothenburger)

The BC Conservative candidates for the two Kamloops ridings made their first public appearance today (Friday. March 15, 2024), a day after their nominations were announced by the party.

Dennis Giesbrecht will go up against BC United’s Peter Milobar in the Kamloops Centre riding, while Barriere Mayor Ward Stamer will challenge Todd Stone of BC United in Kamloops-North Thompson.

The NDP hasn’t picked its candidates in either riding, although Coun. Bill Sarai is seeking the nomination in Kamloops Centre.

Giesbrecht and Stamer held a news conference at the Columbia Street hill lookout to talk about why they’re running. As expected, one of Giesbrecht’s main concerns in the city riding is social disorder, while Stamer targeted health care, affordability and the mounting death toll on the Yellowhead Highway.

Giesbrecht said decriminalization isn’t the answer to the drug problem and neither is handing out free drugs to the addicted. “Safe supply is not the way to go,” he said, adding it’s “immoral” not to get drug users into treatment.

In reference to Milobar and Stone, he said “current representation is too feckless to offer any legitimate challenge to David Eby.”

Stamer blasted the NDP government over its “mismanagement” of key issues. “Whether it’s the job-killing carbon tax brought in by BC United or the lack of housing and affordability, it’s clear Kamloops-North Thompson is in dire need of new leadership.”

In addition to health care and the need for upgrades on the Yellowhead, Stamer said new strategies are needed to fight wildfires.

He and Giesbrecht said they weren’t concerned about splitting the vote between their party and BC United.

“I’m not sure if we’re going to be vote splitting,” said Stamer, saying BC United and its predecessor the BC Liberals didn’t do the job for the province, and voters are in the mood for change.

Stamer said he’ll take a leave as mayor when the writ is dropped. If he wins in the provincial election, a civic by-election will be needed to pick a new mayor for Barriere.