Mohini Singh

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

With municipal elections taking place this year, a Kelowna councillor has tossed her name into the ring for re-election.

Coun. Mohini Singh was first elected to council in 2011 and has served three terms since then. She was born in 1960 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India and immigrated to Canada in 1983 with her family.

“As long as I feel I bring value to the table, the minute I feel that I’m not of much value to the citizens or the community then it’s time to hang up my hat. I’m going to give it another shot, I never thought I was going to be here this long,” she said.

For the last 11 years, she’s worked with the Ministry of Agriculture but decided to retire for family reasons and focus on one job, being a councillor instead of two. COVID-19 happened and she was working from home. Then her daughter was very sick for months with a stomach bacteria that made her refocus, she said.

“Life is unpredictable,” she said. “It’s just time to call it a day.”

If re-elected, she will focus on affordable housing and examining climate change initiatives in the community, she said.

In 2021, there were 716 new market rental units completed in the city, along with 169 carriage houses/suites.

READ MORE: Despite building boom, Okanagan city struggling to house 5,000 new residents

“We have to step up our efforts to ensure we’re building an environmentally friendly community, what that looks like is up for discussion,” she said.

A University of Waterloo study suggests heat waves could hit Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops that last up to 11 days. The average maximum temperature for the year in Kelowna could reach 40.2 C by 2051, according to the study.

The Parkinson Recreation Centre’s redevelopment is another avenue of focus for Singh in order to “sustain this community for the next 60 to 80 years.” She also wants to continue efforts to build an inclusive and safe community.

The mayor receives $113,690.61.01 annually. Councillors receive $38,638.69 annually, plus an additional $350 per month when they serve as deputy mayor, according to the city.

General local elections are held every four years in B.C. The next election is Saturday, Oct. 15.

READ MORE: Thinking of running for city council this fall? Time is not on your side

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