Vassilaki running for mayor

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.

Penticton businessman and former city councillor John Vassilaki is taking another run at the mayor's chair.

He made the announcement to a crowd of about 100 supporters on the front steps of city hall Thursday, highlighting three pillars of his campaign.

“Number one, community safety. What I’m personally experiencing and hearing from many others is that crime has risen to unacceptable levels,” Vassilaki said. “There is a revolving door of criminals that have no fear.”

He said the city needs to be more accountable to taxpayers about how it’s managing community assets, like Skaha Lake Park.  

While the announcement was sparse on details of his platform, he said as mayor, he will focus on building the city’s industrial business sector.

“The city owns a lot of land all over the place. We’ve got to do something and find a way to release it for industrial purposes,” he said, adding the city should be in talks with the Penticton Indian Band to develop industrial land on the other side of the channel.

“Put some land in place that will improve their lives, as well as ours.”

At 72 years old, Vassilaki called himself “the most vibrant candidate" running for office. 

“I still work 8-10 hours every day, I’m the type of person that wants nothing for the best of this city, and I’ll work my heart out to make sure that it happens.”

he said he plans on holding several more events in the coming weeks to unveil more details of his platform.

The Vassilaki family owns several downtown properties including Tiffany's Boutique Mall on Main Street and the Last Call Liquor Store.

Vassilaki served on Penticton city council for 12 years before unsuccessfully running for mayor in 2014. He earned 3,012 votes and lost to Andrew Jakubeit by more than 2,100 votes.

Jakubeit and Jason Cox are the only other two names seeking the mayor's chair so far.

ORIGINAL 12:10 p.m.

Penticton businessman and former councillor John Vassilaki will be taking a second crack at running for mayor in the city.

He made the announcement at the steps of city hall at noon on Thursday.

Vassilaki served on Penticton city council for 12 years before unsuccessfully running for mayor in 2014. He earned 3,012 votes and lost to Andrew Jakubeit by more than 2,100 votes.

He's long done business in the city and owns the Tiffany's Boutique Mall on Main Street, as well as a number of other properties around town.

With his announcement, Vassilaki is the third person to declare mayoral candidacy for this year's municipal election, following Jakubeit and local businessman Jason Cox.