Election ballot gets longer

Add four more names to Vernon's municipal election ballot.

Current city councillor Juliette Cunningham has announced she will run again and newcomer Dalvir Nahal is also putting her name on the council ballot.

“I understand the level of commitment required to fulfill the role of councillor and am prepared to put in the continued effort in order to make thoughtful, informed, responsible decisions on the wide scope of issues that council deals with on a regular basis for our community,” says Cunningham in her announcement.

“As a local small business owner of 24 years, I understand the issues of fiscal responsibility and accountability. One must balance investment in services with tax rates when we consider building our community for today and for future generation,” she adds.

Also stepping up to the plate are two first time mayoral candidates, Jamie Morrow and Akbal Mund who both announced their intention to run this week.

Morrow is a long term Vernon resident and former Sparwood council member who says economic development is key.

“We need to keep moving forward through economic development which will provide jobs and hopefully sustainable higher paying jobs that will keep younger people and families and people here in the community because I really don't like seeing people leave,” says Morrow. “To have a healthy community we need economic development, we need jobs and we need safe, secure and affordable living.”

Morrow says his experience on Sparwood Council energized him to take on the mayoral seat.

“I ran in municipal politics before in the Kootneys and I absolutely loved it, you can make a difference municipally. I have been thinking about running the last two times and this time I just thought, you know, it is time to throw my hat in the ring.”

Former owner of Wendy's and local volunteer Akbal Mund, has also decided to give politics a try after years of community service.

Mund has lived in Vernon since 1993 and feels economic development and arts and culture are key.

“My sole priority will be to work with our new council for the betterment of the community of Vernon. We will run the City of Vernon like a business, create a healthy tax base so that in the future we can look at the possibility of lowering tax rates. We have to have a long term business plan that will create a surplus in the City's coffers on a yearly basis,” says Mund.

He says some of his previous accomplishments include his position as President of Vernon Soccer Association, Director of Extreme Makeover Easter Seals Camp Winfield 2014, President of the Greater Vernon 2012 Winter Games and Co-Founder of Wendy's Dreamlift Day.

“I have a long term vision for the City of Vernon, one where my grandchildren can enjoy the community by residing here, not elsewhere, because we have all the amenities they require for a healthy and prosperous life,” he adds.

The other declared candidates for Vernon's Mayor seat include Victor Cumming, Mary-Jo O’Keefe and Klaus Tribes.

The other declared candidates for Vernon council are Jack Gilroy, Shawn Lee, Catherine Lord and Brian Quiring.