Mayoral candidate Tom Dyas wonders why Mayor Colin Basran used city money to make a campaign-style video

| July 29, 2022 in Kelowna

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The race for mayor of Kelowna has heated up, yet, so far, there's only one person officially vying for the office.

Tom Dyas, the owner of insurance and employee benefits firm TD Benefits, has declared his intention to run for mayor in the Oct. 15 civic election.

Current Mayor Colin Basran hasn't indicated one way or the other if he'll seek reelection for a third term in the city's highest office.

This week, a two-minute-and-thirteen-second video featuring Basran as the spokesperson was posted to the City of Kelowna's and Basran's Facebook pages outlining the Kelowna Safety Plan.

The video prompted letters to the editor to KelownaNow by Teresa Teschner, Jacquie Shartier and Kieran Gray asking why Basran had unofficially launched his campaign for mayor using city money and a city platform.

"If he wants to campaign, he should announce and start fundraising like the rest of the candidates," said Shartier.

"This is just one more ethical lapse under the mayor."

Dyas said he didn't know about the letters, but once they were brought to his attention by KelownaNow he did comment on them.

He questioned the timing of the professionally produced safety video, released soon after he declared safety as one of his main campaign platforms.

Dyas said Basran might be in ethically murky waters using city resources to produce a campaign-style message, especially if Basran might be entering the mayoral race soon.

Dyas went on to say he isn't asking the city to investigate, preferring that issue be aired and letting the voting public make up its own mind.

KelownaNow sought comment from the City of Kelowna, but didn't hear back by end of day Friday.

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