Ahead of strategic planning, mayor invites election candidates to suggest ideas

Photo: Castanet Staff

Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is inviting locals who ran unsuccessfully for a mayoral or council seat last fall to share their ideas for creating a better Kamloops ahead of the city's upcoming strategic planning session.

He said he came up with the idea to reach out to other candidates shortly after inauguration, as the new council began discussing strategic planning.

“Just because somebody didn't get elected doesn't mean that they didn't have some of the best ideas in certain specific areas,” Hamer-Jackson told Castanet Kamloops.

He added many of these candidates spent a lot of time and money to campaign and think of ideas to improve the community.

“Having more people inclusive I think is better. And again, the mayor and council might not use one idea, but hey, we’ve got it in the bank, had a look at it," he said.

"There’s a lot of smart people that didn't get elected.”

Hamer-Jackson said council will be meeting on Thursday and Friday to discuss its strategic plan, which sets out a vision, areas of focus and specific directions for the upcoming term.

He said he will be meeting with some former candidates on Wednesday, and said anyone interested in contributing their ideas should email mayor and council or reach out to city hall.