Candidates in West-Kelowna by-election on July 10

The West-Kelowna by-election is taking place on July 10.

Here’s a brief look at the candidates running.

Jag Bhandari – B.C. Vision Party:

Bhandari is running for the BC Vision Party, which promises a “One Vision, One World” platform based on equality.

Jag Bhandari (JB), the founder of One Vision One World  travelled through most of Canada to promote Global peace and a World without any limitations to achieve their goals.  The main focus of his trip was to encourage the Canadians and World citizens to come out and use their judgment to elect the right leadership. There is a dire need of right kind of leadership in the world to bring peace and promote communal harmony.

Christy Clark – B.C. Liberal Party:

Since becoming Premier, Christy has led the charge to advance her mandate of putting families first, of defending and creating jobs, and of creating a more open government.

Christy was born and raised in Burnaby by her mother Mavis, a family counsellor, and her father Jim, a school teacher and guidance counsellor. Like her parents, Christy has an extensive record of community involvement and leadership for British Columbia’s families.

Carole Gordon – B.C. NDP:

Carole has lived in Kelowna and West Kelowna for 40 years. She earned her UVIC Bachelor of Education Degree at OUC and has been teaching in the Central Okanagan for over 21 years.

Carole has worked with many non-profits that help children, families and seniors, including The Kelowna Child Care Society and Success By 6. Carole is a past president of the North Okanagan Labour Council and is currently the Chair of the BCTF Pensions Committee and a director for the Central Okanagan United Way.

John Marks – Independent:

“I moved to the Okanagan Valley in 1990 and have operated my own Chartered Accountant’s office since that time.   My clients are small businesses and individuals and I have heard their frustrations with gov’t for many years.  The main issues involve fairness and equity.  I believe this byelection provides the perfect set of circumstances to bring these issues to the forefront and to establish a commitment to change the current status quo.  West Kelowna has the opportunity to show the way for the future of BC politics.

Why I decided to run is summarized below;

As I see it – You have three choices:

1)    Vote for the liberals and maintain the status quo, as unhappy with it as you are.

2)    Vote for the tax, borrow and spend NDP and give them a propaganda victory, which will increase the likelihood of an NDP victory in the next election.  And with an NDP victory, if history teaches us anything, all the economic woes and deficit spending and increase in provincial debt that will surely follow.

or

3)    Voting for an independent, particularly one who has your concerns,  which I believe is to make our province and society fair and more equitable.  To provide an economic climate where the private sector can expand and flourish as it is the real economic engine of the province.

There are a number of ways to do this, the first one is to introduce a Compensation Equity Act.  This would make it illegal for a public servant to be paid more than they would earn for the same job in the private sector.  It would factor in pensions as deferred income ensuring that taxpayers weren’t overpaying twice for the same labour and it would set salary caps for executives.

The gap between gov’t and private sector workers is a great inequality in our society, both as an economic and as a fairness issue and needs to be dealt with.

The second issue is to implement the will of the people of British Columbia as shown in the aboriginal treaty referendum, held by Gordon Campbell and the Liberal Party in 2002.  The people of BC basically stated that they did not want a race based society and all people of BC, who have the means, should be contributing for the services that the gov’t delivers.   Although this will be an arduous course of action, the longer the gov’t waits to introduce a framework to achieve this, the harder and more expensive it will be.

The third issue I want to address is the economy.

Our per capita GDP ranks 9^th out of 14 jurisdictions measured in Canada.  The only jurisdictions we beat are Manitoba (NDP gov’t), Quebec (separatist/socialist gov’t) and the three east coast provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

In a democratic society you need the full and correct financial information as part of your decision making process when deciding on who you will cast your vote for.  My suspicion on the recent departure of our provincial auditor general was due to his frustration in not being able to get full and complete financial information to give to the public.

I would hopefully be able, with my financial background, to help ensure this information is never withheld from the public.

GDP or Gross Domestic product is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a geographic area (for our purposes – our province’s borders) within a specific time frame, usually calculated on an annual basis.  The GDP includes all private and public consumption, gov’t outlays, investments plus exports less imports that occur within BC.

In fact the numbers show we are not doing well in comparison and to make things worse the provincial GDP is only where it is at , that is in 9^th position, because of the binge in our provincial government’s borrowing and building that has occurred in BC over the last few years.  A practice that cannot continue without serious consequences for the population.  Interest payments, currently at 2.5 billion each year or to put it in more understandable terms, $6.3 million each day plus debt repayment will start to crowd out all other funding requirements when preparing budgets.

Just think, without this interest and debt, they could give this riding just one day’s worth of interest every year and provide over 6 million dollars, each and every year, to do with as you see fit.”

Silverado Brooks Socrates – Independent:

“I spent first part of life at Canadian air force base Cold Lake and then spent elementary and mid school years in Saskatchewan and PEI.  Really learned of the power of music to develop  community from the folk music learned while at Summerside, PEI.  It was in Alaska that I learned to ride and what great teachers horses can be- grounding one way or the other!   Learned the power of sports to fuel community, upon moving to the Okanagan  for the high school years.  It was thru sports that I also learned how athletes can be pawns as well as providers of political change and inspiration for the better.  Scholarships allowed university opportunity and opened my mind to the potential of helping others thru animals, music, and sport.  I started Mandy and Me trail riding with this in mind.  In  2011 I attended the world conference for I.I.P.T.  (international institute for peace thru tourism) and the focus was climate change.  In november  of 2011,  I founded the bc chapter of I.I.P.T. -the first chapter in Canada, though it was founded in 1988, in Vancouver, at a global conference: Tourism- a vital force for peace.  This marks the 25yr of IIPT and interestingly, is the 25 yr CIS records I set in the indoor 3000m and helped make in the 4x800m record.   I was inducted into the uvic sports hall of fame this year.  It was uvics’ golden year anniversary celebration and in my acceptance speech I spoke of how I felt the Vikes were a great family and how the students from uvic have built a bridge to Victoria as powerful and perhaps more effective then any political one.   I would love to help all our community members feel a similar support and bridge to Victoria.  I would also like to be in a better position to help folk here and abroad to discover the magic in the Okanagan Valley of supernatural B.C. ”

“I am a runner, I’m a rider,  I’m a soldier that can’t be bought.  I live for what I love, and I won’t be what I am not. I don’t put labels or limits on you, I expect just the same. Give me half a chance, you’ll see what great things we can gain. I have led many trail rides, but first had to ride them on my own.  Had many nervous riders and taught them to go on.  Let’s take the reins out of democracy, and lead each other a new way.  With role models of gentle guidance, for those who go astray.  These lines are kind of random, but what am I to do?  I have had over 40 years of choices that I’ve had to simplify for you.”

Sean Upshaw – B.C. Conservative:

Sean is a Member of the prestigious RE/MAX Hall of Fame. Sean was recently given the Award of Excellence Lifetime Member from Royal LePage. In 1986 he founded Praise Christian Fellowship in Richmond BC. In 1990 he spent a year on the mission field in Darwin, NT, Australia. Upon returning from there he began his Real Estate career and is still working for Royal LePage Kelowna. In 1997 Sean founded The Father’s House in Abbotsford BC. He moved to the Okanagan in December 2002. And has been successfully selling Real Estate Agent in the Okanagan since 2003.

Sean’s record is that of a person who is well educated, a real achiever who is not afraid to be innovative and take risks. He is loyal and committed to what is right, unwavering when right is right.

As you can see Sean has been serving people all his adult life. He is a Passionate Servant of the People, a Listener who Leads. He jokingly describes himself as Ralph Klein with out the Beer.

Dayleen Van Ryswyk – Independent:

A businesswoman, Van Ryswyk is the founder of Okanagan Koi, a water garden retail store. She was born in the Yukon and describes herself as an environmental advocate on issues of forestry and agriculture. Van Ryswyk ran for Kelowna council in 2011, but finished 28th out of 40 candidates, with just 1337 votes. She originally was the NDP’s nominee in this riding, but resigned after blog posts critical of First Nations people were found on a local website.

Korry Zepik – Independent:

From an article in April –

Two years employed as an iron worker in Fort McMurray opened Korry Zepik’s eyes to an environmental crisis and propelled him into politics. Zepik has worked on Green Party campaigns, but decided to run independently in this election. His ideal scenario is an NDP minority government with a balance of power held by ten Green seats.

All candidates were contacted to provide a short biography.