TRU professor Cindy Ross Friedman intends to run for Kamloops mayor in the fall byelection.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Cindy Ross Friedman
June 02, 2017 - 2:30 PM
KAMLOOPS – Political newcomer Cindy Ross Friedman wants to change the way people view politicians by running for Kamloops mayor in the fall byelection.
The Thompson Rivers University biology professor says she's always had inclinations to try and help people, and entering the political landscape is a way for her to do so. Ross Friedman says there's a common misconception about things happening and decisions being made behind closed doors and she wants to change that.
"I've always associated politicians with white guys doing things nobody knows about. I want to show people that being a political doesn't necessarily mean that," she says.
Bernie Sanders, who ran against Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, is a politician she admires and says she wants to model herself after him.
"He really says a lot of things I want to say and believes in a lot of the things I believe in," she says.
Ross Friedman considered running for a seat on city council during the last municipal election, but was satisfied with the diversity of the candidates and thought they'd do a good job.
"I saw what's going on with the mayor's position and decided I can handle it. I can show leadership and I want to go for it," she says.
Winning the mayor's seat means she'd have to take an extended leave from her teaching position. Right now, she's on a sabbatical.
She's been quite vocal about her stance on the proposed Ajax mine.
"Mining is really important, but not this mine and not this place. It's too close. But I'm not running for mayor because I'm against Ajax. I'm running because I have ideas," Ross Friedman says.
On June 30, the resignations of Mayor Peter Milobar, Coun. Marg Spina and Coun. Ken Christian take effect and Kamloops will move ahead with a fall byelection. As of today, there will be two open council positions along with the mayor's seat on the ballot.
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