Coun. Ron Cannan wants to be the next mayor of Kelowna

The cat's out of the bag.

Although he won't make it official until next Thursday, Coun. Ron Cannan has let his intention to run for mayor of Kelowna be known.

"I want a safer, greener and more fiscally responsible city," Cannan told KelownaNow.

"I recognize that (current Kelowna Mayor) Tom Dyas has worked hard, but he's taking Kelowna in a direction that's not producing results for safety, affordability, accountability and transparency."

These statements suggest the race for mayor leading up to the Oct. 17 civic election could be testy.

Dyas, who is serving his first term as mayor, hasn't announced if he'll seek reelection, but it's widely believed he will.

Cannan will officially kick of his bid for the mayor's office Thursday, June 18 at 10 am at Evil Genius Tattoo at 191 Asher Rd. in Rutland.

While that may seem an odd spot to launch a political campaign, Cannan explained he picked the locale because owner Donavan Moore is a grassroots advocate of safer streets for all with a Business Block campaign similar to Neighbourhood Watch.

"We need to take back our city one block at a time," said Cannan.

"It's a big challenge."

Cannan is referring to increasing concerns around safety and crime, much of it linked to homelessness, addiction and mental-health issues.

Cannan was a City of Kelowna councillor from 1996 to 2005 before he became the Conservative MP for Kelowna-Lake Country 2006-15.

He was reelected to council in the last civic election in 2022 as the top vote getter in the race to choose eight councillors.

Cannon isn't the first to announce his intention to run for mayor.

In April, Emily Salsbury, a fashion design and owner of the EMMYDEVEAUX clothing store in South Pandosy, said she wanted to be mayor.

Not much has been heard from her since.

"I want Kelowna to be more efficient and prudent with citizens' tax dollars," said Cannan.

"In the last four years, property taxes in Kelowna have gone up 18%, while inflation was 11%. The city is living beyond its means. As individuals, we have to make tough decisions about our household budgets. The city also has to make some tough decisions."

Cannan was the only member of council to vote against the 2025 city provisional budget, saying he couldn't agree to raising taxes more than the consumer price index.

Cannan also dislikes that the city's rate of growth is 10%, yet city staff and bureaucracy has grown by 20%.

Cannan's often been a lone wolf on council.

He wanted a referendum before the city went ahead with a $242-million redevelopment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre.

"We could have rebuilt it for less, not as grandiose," he said.

He didn't want the 35% pay raise that council voted for itself, effective Jan. 1.

He didn't vote for a Climate Change Declaration, citing insufficient scientific consensus.

And, he's been outspoken against too many highrises in the city, especially ones that get tax breaks to be built.