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(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - It's pretty common to want to get more educated around election time, especially if you are running for city council. 

We surfed the web and made some calls to some Vernon city council candidates to see how they're getting ready for the position that carries a lot of responsibility.

Not all of these candidates have served on council before, but they have been going to meetings, or using the city's online resources to watch meetings. They've been going out in the community and some have made their platforms accessible online.

These, of course, are not our endorsements, but if you think a candidate belongs on the list, let us know in the comments.

READ MORE: iN VIDEO: What a city councillor actually does

Jasmine Finlay

Image Credit: Facebook

For the past two years Jasmine Finlay has been attending all the city council meetings, including two full days of budget meetings when she had the opportunity to speak. She has read Vernon's Official Community Plan, the 25-year transportation plan, the recreation plan, and water plan, she says.

"When contentious things are on the agenda, I not only read the agenda packages in advance I actually research them," she says in a phone interview. She also says she would like to have a voice on council avocating for young families. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a website to find out more.

Sherrilee Franks

Image Credit: Facebook

Sherrilee Franks is watching online video recordings of the city council meetings as well as reading though the meeting minutes. She might be knocking on your door this Saturday for some door-to-door campaigning.

Franks calls volunteering an "almost-addiction" and is known for her work at O'Keefe Ranch, and Vernon Women in Business. The three key pillars to her platform are entrepreneurship, housing and community. You can read more about her platform on her website.

Dr. Shawn Lee

Image Credit: Facebook

This former Vernon city councillor wears many hats. Dr. Shawn Lee is also a dentist, blogger, and photographer. He blogs about his opinions about current events and appears to show he is up to speed on local issues. He keeps a second website for his dental practice that says Lee has served as the President of the Arts Council of the North Okanagan. He is active in his church community, acting as a lay Bishop as well as youth and adult teacher.

Dawn Tucker

Image Credit: Facebook

Dawn Tucker has been attending council meetings for the last two years, as well as the budget meetings. She says she spends a lot of time talking to residents, and hearing their concerns, and issues with the city. Tucker reads city bylaws, the RCMP Quarterly report, as well as anything that pertains to the city as it comes up, she says. She's also a moderator for the popular Vernon & Area Community Forum on Facebook, which often highlights issues before they hit the council agenda. 

"Depending upon the topic that comes up I delve into it and try to find different viewpoints and facts on the issues so that I can provide that to the residents, and also to be able to track what's been going on with the council," Tucker says in a phone interview.

She uses Facebook as a platform for her campaign, and is constantly sharing events, news articles, as well as opinions.

Terry Vulcano

Image Credit: tvulcano.com

This man does not like to let tasks sit unfinished, he said when following up with iNFOnews.ca after receiving our questionnaire. Terry Vulcano went to Medicine Hat, a city that claims to have solved homelessness since 2015. There he got to see the housing situation first hand, made a contact and got ahold of some of their reports. He also has a website that allows users to see what he is all about at his "issues, concerns and goals" page. There's also a list of his past accomplishments, such as working for the city of Calgary as an assistant alderman. You might have already seen him knocking on your door promoting his campaign. 

READ MORE: Five Vernon city council candidates to watch this election

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shelby Thevenot or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won’t censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

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