Jason Reynen, the leader of the vigilante group Clean Streets Penticton, plans to run for mayor of Penticton in 2022.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Jason Reynen

The head of a Penticton vigilante group is taking his efforts to the ballot box this fall.

Jason Reynen, who runs Clean Streets Penticton, a Facebook page of crime watchers and people who patrol city streets to retrieve stolen items, is running for mayor. And the organization has a number of councillor candidates running under the Clean Streets banner.

"Ideally, I want to set a goal of having a group of councillors under the umbrella of what we were going to accomplish," Reynen told iNFOnews.ca.

READ MORE: Penticton mayor concerned about potential for violence with vigilantes

So far, Reynen is the only person who's stepped up to face incumbent John Vassilaki in the election for Penticton's next mayor.

The group garnered attention earlier this summer when it began organizing people frustrated with the property crime in the South Okanagan city.

They then began to patrol the streets, looking for items they believe to be stolen so they can return them to original owners.

"To date, somewhere around 30 bikes were recovered," he said on Aug. 31. "And we assisted in two vehicles that were stolen."

Penticton RCMP and Mayor John Vassilaki denounced the group and any "vigilante-type" actions in July.

"We encourage our citizens to continue to observe and report suspicious behaviour to us, and participate in the court process. However, we cannot condone vigilante type activities if we are to move toward lasting solutions," Penticton RCMP said in a statement.

READ MORE: Penticton most crime ridden city in Thompson-Okanagan and much of B.C.

Vassilaki said the group was making a "bad situation worse" by taking matters into their own hands.

But Reynen believes the attention and growing membership within the group shows the desire among Penticton residents to better address its property crime woes.

He's so far met with three current city councillors to discuss the upcoming election, whom he didn't name.

READ MORE: John Vassilaki expects to be re-elected mayor of Penticton

"Shannon (Stewart) is going to run for council. I'm going to run for mayor," he said.

Stewart helps as an administrator of the group with Reynen.

Reynen lives with his family in West Kelowna, but his businesses, Beach City CrossFit and Minute Muffler and Brake, are in Penticton.

Clean Streets Penticton is planning to host a rally on Sept. 10, the day after the deadline for candidate nomination papers in the municipal election.

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