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Kelowna  

Mayor's field already crowded

If early numbers are any indication, Kelowna's mayoralty race is going to be a very crowded affair.

Without an incumbent in the field it appears anyone and everyone is willing to take a shot at the open mayor's chair.

Since the window for picking up nomination papers opened just two-and-a-half days ago, seven people have stopped into City Hall to pick mayoralty papers.

Of those, six have allowed their names to go public.

Only one, current councillor Colin Basran, has any political experience, and he has just one term under his belt.

Andrew Uitvlugt is taking a third stab after failed attempts in 2002 (1,937 votes/12.06%) and 2005 (73 votes/0.28%). He also finished last in a record field of 40 seeking a council seat in 2011.

Also tossing down the gauntlet are Kelly Row, Samuel Condy, James Murphy and Dale Myrdal.

Another 11 prospective candidates have picked up councillor nomination forms.

These include current councillor, Luke Stack and former councillor Carol Gran.

James Murphy is taking a third stab at a council seat after failing in the 2009 by-election and 2011 general election while Cal Condy, unsuccessful in his mayoralty bid in 2011 is back looking for a council seat.

Also picking up packages were Rawlie James, Margaret-Ann Gfeller, David Boyko, Patrick Doyle and Geoff Turton.

Three others asked that their names not be released.

One nomination package was picked up for a school trustee.

While 19 nomination packages have been picked up, the date for officially filing papers does not open until 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept 30.

It will be then that the three races will take shape.

In 2011, a record 40 people ran for council with another five seeking the mayor's chair.



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