Mr. Open Pitbelly (Elaine Sedgman) has dropped out of the mayoral race.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
October 09, 2014 - 9:35 AM
KAMLOOPS - Mr. Open Pitbelly has stepped out of the ring and is no longer running for mayor.
Elaine Sedgman, who dressed up as Pitbelly as satirical performance art, did not want her name to be on the ballot in place of Open Pitbelly.
“After a walk in the park, his manager Elaine Sedgman, has decided to not take his place on the ballot,” a release said this morning. “Mr. Pitbelly encourages everybody get out and vote on Nov. 15.”
Sedgman, inspired by the 1970s campaign of Mr. Peanut, held a handful of press conferences over the past several weeks as she used satire to get people talking about the proposed Ajax Mine.
She said she wanted to make people laugh but also bring attention to the seriousness of the proposed mine. She held events that tackled pollution and jobs and her platform was purely sarcastic. Her message was clear as she spoke of the three Ps of prosperity — pits, ponds (tailings) and pollution.
“I want people to laugh. Of course it’s a serious topic, but I want people to laugh, to open up the discussion,” she says. “KAPA is very serious, and rightfully so, and I just wanted to give a different slant to it. I really hope it will get people interested in the election.”
With Pitbelly dropping out only incumbent Peter Milobar and Ben James are in the running for the mayoral seat as of Thursday morning. The nomination period closes Friday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. and the election will take place on Nov. 15. Kamloops will elect one mayor, eight councillors and five school trustees.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014