Leighton enters council race

Photo: Contributed

A retired broadcaster and former Prince George city councillor has entered the race for Vernon City Council. 

Gord Leighton announced candidacy to media Friday afternoon. 

Leighton refers to himself as “the Common Sense Senior”.

“As a senior on a fixed income, I know the importance of frugality”, he writes. "I fear there is an ingrained sense of entitlement in some areas of city administration, where discretionary expenditures are given the green light simply because there is money remaining in a budget line item – and not because the need is an immediate priority."

Leighton moved to the region in 2003 and was General Manager of four Bell Media-owned radio stations, including Vernon’s Sun FM, until his retirements in January 2017.

Leighton was named Prince George and District Chamber of Commerce  Businessperson of the Year in 1995. He was named the Broadcaster of the Year in 1997 by the B.C. Association of Broadcasters; he also held elected positions as president of several organizations including the BC Association of Broadcasters, the Quality Council of Prince George and the Yellowhead Rotary Club. Leighton also served as a Board member on a long list of other organizations in the broadcast industry and in the community.