Kamloops business owner Reid Hamer-Jackson poses for a photo, Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Hamer-Jackson wants to be the next mayor of Kamloops and intends to run in this fall's municipal election.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

A Kamloops business owner wants to hold both B.C. Housing and City staff to account if he wins the mayor's job in the fall municipal election.

Reid Hamer-Jackson, the owner of the Tru Market car dealership, says his business experience will be the key to helping him lead the city.

"I've run a few businesses and, to me, the City is a big business. In every business I've run you've got to make people accountable for their jobs, and I've got a lot of questions to ask," Hamer-Jackson said.

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Hamer-Jackson's top concern in his bid for mayor is the ongoing opioid crisis, which has claimed dozens of lives in Kamloops each year since 2016. Known for pushing the prospect of a drug recovery centre in more rural areas of the city like Rayleigh, he hopes to spearhead efforts for dry-bed addiction treatment facilities in Kamloops.

Hamer-Jackson is now the third person to announce their intentions to run for mayor. He joins councillor Arjun Singh, and business owner and former councillor Ray Dhaliwal.

On Victoria Street West, Hamer-Jackson's business is across the street from the Rosethorn House supportive housing facility and the Emerald Centre shelter. He said vandalism and theft has increased since the facilities were opened, now forcing him to limit vehicle inventory on his lot while keeping his doors locked at all times.

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He frequently tours the streets of Kamloops at odd hours, getting up at thee or four in the morning to speak with people experiencing homelessness. He'll chat and ask about their experiences, in hopes of convincing some to pursue treatment for their addictions.

A municipality's influence over addictions resources can be limited, but Hamer-Jackson looks to Penticton as an example of a City that has taken B.C. Housing to task over its proposed solutions to address homelessness and addiction. The City of Penticton challenged a supportive housing development and after negotiations agreed on a 54-unit site, which will be focused on addiction recovery.

Besides housing with social supports, he will be focused on bringing more affordable housing to Kamloops, adding that seniors and "hard working citizens" are feeling the pressure from an inflating housing market.

As for other platform ideas and agenda items, Hamer-Jackson said he looks forward to discussions with the public to determine what's important to Kamloops voters.

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While he's floated the idea of running for mayor over the last few months, he said the final decision came after learning of the ongoing arbitration over the City's sweeping changes to its bylaw officer division, which is scheduled to begin later this month, according to union representative Harry Nott.

When asked what he would do if he doesn't win the election, Hamer-Jackson said he'd have to sell his property.

Mayor Ken Christian announced last month he will not be running for re-election in the 2022 municipal election.

Election campaigns are not scheduled to officially begin until July, but with three candidates already putting their hats in the ring, it appears to be getting off to an early start.

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