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Kelowna  

Zimmermann bows out

There could be as many as four, maybe more, councillor openings on Kelowna Council come November after one term councillor Gerry Zimmermann confirmed Monday he will not seek a second term.

Zimmermann, who spent 15 years as Kelowna's fire chief (1990 to 2005) before being elected to council in 2011, says he will not be running again in November.

"I'm 65-years-old and there's other things in life I want to do," says Zimmermann of his decision.

"I want to spend more time on my farm - I'd rather ride my horse and my tractor than be in meetings if you want the honest to God truth. Life is just too short.

Zimmermann joins long time councillor Andre Blanleil as those who have definitely announced they will not run in November.

Colin Basran is seeking the mayor's chair while Robert Hobson, a councillor for 26 years, stated three years ago this would be his last term.

Mohini Singh and Luke Stack have both taken out papers, Maxine DeHart has indicated she will run again as has Gail Given who has mentioned a desire to run for mayor, although that may be down the road.

Zimmermann, who decided to run in 2011 because he didn't like what was happening in council chambers, says while a decision to significantly increase RCMP resources, the new Interior Health building and approval of a new downtown hotel are major accomplishments, it was the little things he'll remember most.

"The important ones were things like the soccer bubble. Some of the smaller things....working at putting a paddle centre down at Cedar Avenue, things that we are trying to do with Centennial Park. Those are the important things to me," says Zimmermann.

"But one of our big accomplishments was the fact we were able to make decisions. That's, I think, the thing I'll take away with me. We didn't defer things. If something came up, and it didn't matter if it was a tough thing or not, we dealt with it."

Zimmermann acknowledges the additional year added to council and school trustee terms was a big factor in his decision to leave after just one term.

"That's a huge commitment."

But he does believe this council has left Kelowna in a good place.

"I'm worried about the future just like everybody else is but I think this council has moved things in a real positive direction. I just hope that continues. There's a lot of people who want to be members of council. I just hope we get a good council again," says Zimmermann who adds potential candidates need to run for the right reasons.

"Take a real good look at the reason you're going on. Are you going on because you've got some personal agendas, or because you want to make money or think you're going to make money, are you going on because you;'re really mad at something. None of those are good reasons.

The only good reason is that you really want to do what's right...I think too many people look at it that it's something that it's not."

As of Friday afternoon, 27 people had taken out papers in hopes of attaining one of the eight councillor positions.

Zimmermann, who sat on the Agricultural Land Commission from 2008 to 2010 has applied for a commission position.

A decision should come down within the next few weeks.

He says he'll also continue his role with the Black Mountain Irrigation District.



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