(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

OPINION

Want to be the mayor of Kelowna?

Someone’s going to need to step up or next November, the political puppet masters in this city are going to pull the strings for some political shenanigans like we’ve not seen before.

There’s a plan afoot to accommodate two Old Boys from the Club, Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick and Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran.

Letnick, you see, has figured out he holds something of great value. He’s the MLA in a riding guaranteed to re-elect a B.C. Liberal.

Perhaps he learned something from his buddies in the Conservative Party. Remember MP Stockwell Day? He won his first byelection in 2000 in his largely West Kelowna riding at that time, with 70 per cent of the vote. That’s what you call a safe riding.

He knew what he had, he knew it was of value to someone. When he decided he wouldn’t run again he only told his pals on the executive of his constituency association at the eleventh hour before the nomination was due. Those four gentlemen fought it out amongst themselves before choosing Dan Albas the candidate, and he will be MP now for as long as he’d ever like to be.

Albas wasn’t elected, he was coronated.

Now it’s Norm’s turn. He’s also in a safe riding, hasn’t won an election by less than 50 per cent of the vote.

He’s getting old and wants to retire, but like any politician, his dual pensions won’t allow him to retire well… enough.

Norm isn’t just going to retire and leave that seat for nothing. My sources tell me he’s working on a switcharoo with Basran to take the Mayor’s chair.

Basran has always had eyes on bigger prizes than little old Kelowna. He blew his chance to be part of Justin Trudeau’s team with the Liberal Party of Canada, so I know he loves this deal. 

Colin Basran welcoming Justin Trudeau in Kelowna July 23, 2013.

(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

Next Fall, just before the nomination period for the municipal election, expect Norm to resign and put his name on the ballot once Colin has secured the nod from the B.C. Liberals for the Kelowna-Lake Country seat. Or, maybe Colin will resign first, there won’t be a byelection for mayor within a year of the municipal elections. 

Colin's also an old pro at these games. He helped clear his own path to His Worshipness by clearing his own rivals out of the race, including Coun. Gail Given. She yielded her run for mayor and he helped make sure she is Chair of the Central Okanagan Regional District.

Word is the Kelowna-Lake Country constituency association is already shopping the seat-switch with party leadership hopefuls and has their blessing.

Letnick confirmed to me yesterday, he "would give very serious consideration to giving the people that choice” of electing him mayor.

“People are beginning to ask if I would run,” he said and by "people" he means Colin Basran.

I also asked Norm about a switcharoo, but not this one. I heard the wrong rumour at first and asked if he was considering vacating his seat for the new party leader. He didn’t answer the question, but he also didn’t protest. He knew I was onto this. I imagine that’s why he sent part of our conversation to all media in town, to get ahead of this story.

Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick, seen here posing shirtless when he was agriculture minister. He's back in the garden again, this time hatching a plot to take Kelowna's mayors chair in a deal with current mayor Colin Basran.

Image Credit: Facebook

When I got more clarity about this farce of democracy, I suppose I could have asked him again. But here’s the trouble with asking politicians questions: They’ll answer them. But you can never trust them, so really, what’s the point?

Sad part is, if and when this happens, there won’t be much anyone can do about Basran. Even if voters can’t stand the stench of this cynical power play, it won’t be enough to override their hate for the NDP and he’ll be elected. So long as the party wants him there.

Letnick might not be stoppable in a run for mayor, either.

If Letnick’s on the ballot for his Retiremayor plan, he'll scare off many potential rivals, as if Letnick himself has any real popularity apart from being the latest stick figure in a B.C. Liberal stronghold. Ron Cannan won’t run against him. Tom Dyas won’t.

So I ask again: Who wants to be mayor? Who’s the next Sharon Shepherd to take a flamethrower to the Old Boys network and restore some trust and hope that politicians can be decent people?

Because if a serious challenger doesn’t step forward, Letnick, Basran and their cronies are going to be doing a victory lap next November and laughing at every single one of us.

— Marshall Jones is the Managing Editor of iNFOnews.ca

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