FILE PHOTO - Kamloops mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson may sell his business to avoid conflicts of interest and pay his legal bills.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

The mayor of Kamloops is considering his options as he looks to sell his home and his business. 

Reid Hamer-Jackson said he forgot about the listing, which was posted two years ago, but added that "everything's for sale" if the right offer comes around.

He first listed the home on forsalebyowner.ca in January 2022, long before he was elected. If it's sold, he said, it could support his legal bills that are beginning to pile up.

Brett Mineer of Radio NL shared the listing to social media, April 18, to Hamer-Jackson's surprise. Meanwhile, the mayor is putting more consideration into whether he'll sell his downtown business, claiming it would help him avoid conflicts of interest on council.

"I'm probably going to sell that property and my business," he said. "I never thought I'd have to sell my property to help get a safer community."

READ MORE: How Kamloops councillors and staff have leashed the mayor

When issues related to West Victoria Street have come up in the past, he has stepped away because of his own business interests on the street, including his own call for a "review" of a homeless storage facility across from city hall. He said selling the property should allow him to stop stepping away from issues over homelessness and non-profit projects on West Victoria Street, but admitted it would also help him pay for legal bills. 

"I've got legal expenses that are backing up, so maybe it's time for me to sell off some property," he said.

It's not clear how much he has spent on lawyers since his term began or how much is outstanding, but he's been in contact with legal representation since he was elected.

He has consulted with his lawyer and friend David McMillan on conflict of interest issues that arose within the first weeks of his term, later hiring a firm in Vancouver after he filed a lawsuit against Coun. Katie Neustaeter. The defamation case has not progressed to a trial and it's unlikely they will reach a settlement.

Hamer-Jackson said he has been considering the sale of both his business and the West Victoria Street property, but it hasn't been listed since he first mentioned the idea to iNFOnews.ca weeks ago.

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His dealership, Tru Market Truck and Auto Sales, hasn't sold a vehicle since the 2022 election. BC Assessment values the property at $918,400, which is almost entirely in land value.

As for his Westmount area home, Hamer-Jackson said he is considering subdividing the property and selling off a section.

"We've been talking about it because it can be subdivided. We do need more housing, so I may look at subdividing or just selling the whole thing. I'm not sure," he said.

"Right now, anything's for sale."

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