Hodge On High Horse

When I learned that the Okanagan Mission Resident’s Association had named me as one of their eight recommended candidates for Kelowna City Council I was quite frankly very surprised.

I spent a lot of time answering the eight questions within their questionnaire – and I did so honestly and with no knowledge of an ‘endorsement’ at the end of the day. In fact if you go to my web site you will see the questions and answers. I clearly did not pander to them. In fact I mentioned to my wife after sending it off by email that, “they may not like what I had to say – but that’s how I felt.”

There are no strings attached to the OMRA decision to recommend nine candidates – and I believe any group or organization should have the right, (like any individual), to recommend candidates they believe in.

I’m somewhat boggled by the recent controversy, as I thought the idea of questionnaires and/or a candidates’ public forum was to garner supporters. If this is not basic democracy in action then what is?

The media is the first to criticize the public or groups for not getting involved in elections – and then when someone takes such an initiative they are slammed for it as manipulative. Get a grip folks.

I salute the OMRA for their effort.

Anyone who knows me will clearly state I am nobody’s puppet and I dance to no one’s strings. I am insulted by an inference otherwise.

The Chamber of Commerce and the DKA will be hosting a public forum next week, and perhaps others will as well. Should I not attend or take part in case I manage to convince people to vote for me?

Is the debate not designed to help people decide whom to vote for? Does anyone seriously believe that the DKA and Chamber will not have their own recommendations as well? I would hope they do.

A member of the media told me, “It’s one thing to have a list of supporters and it’s another to print it in the newspaper.” To which I reminded him that the reporter wrote the story and the editor chose to run it – not the OMRA.

If readers wish to get back to the real debate, which should be about the issues that face our community and learning about candidates, then I encourage you to please check my website charliehodge.ca , or email me at [email protected] if you have any questions about my position or viewpoint.

Charlie Hodge
Candidate for Kelowna City Council