Update: Rookie Kelowna Coun. Colin Basran has made it official, he wants to be Kelowna’s next mayor.
Basran. 36, held a news conference Tuesday morning at a downtown restaurant, with Okanagn Lake as a backdrop, and said because he still has six months left as a councillor, all he was doing was announcing his intention to run to succeed current Mayor Walter Gray.
“At this point I’m not releasing a platform,” he said.
A realtor and former television news reporter, Basran was born and raised in Kelowna and his family has lived in this area for nearly 100 years. He is married and has two young children.
Basran is the first candidate to announce a run for mayor in November’s civic election, an election that will reward the winer with a four-year term, up from the current three-year term. His council colleague Gail Given has said she is also considering a run for mayor but has not announced her candidacy yet. There is also wide speculation that former mayor Sharon Shepherd may run again as well.
In announcing, Basran said he wants to see a better future in the city for both his children and his parents here, one he is confident can be achieved if Kelowna lives up to its potential and continues to embrace technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Colin Basran will make an announcement about his political future this morning at Earl’s restaurant in downtown Kelowna
The single-term councillor has already stated publicly he is considering a run for the mayor’s chair—a position Mayor Walter Gray has decided not to pursue.
Basran made his name as a reporter for what is now the Global Okanagan TV station back when it was known as CHBC.
He is now a realtor and serving his first term as a city councillor.
Basran’s announcement is set for 10:30 a.m.
