Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are running in this election.

I’m JC Rathwell, a Kelowna resident running for City Council because I believe leadership is a calling to serve, protect, and steward our city with integrity.

I’m running to help restore order and hope to neighborhoods that feel forgotten. My platform centers on three commitments: (1) public safety with moral clarity—supporting police and bylaw, enforcing consequences for repeat offending, and pairing outreach with real pathways to treatment and shelter; (2) accountable governance—advocating two‑term limits for mayor, council, and trustees, publishing clear dashboards for housing and safety spending, and holding incumbents responsible for results, not just promises; and (3) compassionate order—expanding supportive housing and mental‑health services that are structured, measured, and tied to outcomes so people are helped without enabling cycles of harm.

If you feel comfortable sharing, what is your faith background, religious tradition, or philosophical worldview, for example: Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, secular, or another worldview?

I’m a Christian by background and belief, though not actively practicing in a church. My worldview is shaped by a simple conviction: every person has dignity and deserves safety, opportunity, and accountability.

How do your personal values shape your leadership, and what are those values?

My leadership is driven by three values: responsibility, compassion with boundaries, and truth‑telling. Responsibility means leaders must see problems up close and be answerable for results—which is why I’ve pledged eight RCMP/Bylaw ride‑alongs and will forfeit a year’s salary if I don’t complete them. Compassion with boundaries means supporting shelter, treatment, and housing for those who want help, while enforcing consequences for repeat offending that harms neighbors. Truth‑telling means calling issues by their real names—public disorder, addiction, and enforcement failures—so solutions actually work instead of sounding good.

How would you balance your personal beliefs with your responsibility to represent all Kelowna residents?

I will govern for everyone, not just those who share my beliefs. Personal faith informs my commitment to human dignity and public safety, but policy will be judged by outcomes that benefit all Kelowna: lower crime, cleaner public spaces, more occupied and well‑maintained housing, and transparent spending. I’ll listen to diverse communities, publish clear metrics, and adjust course when data shows something isn’t working. In short: lead with principle, decide by evidence, and serve the whole city.

How would you like to see city spending prioritized?

Public safety first, then core services. Tie every dollar to measurable outcomes—response times, repeat‑offender reductions, occupied housing units, and clean, safe public spaces—and publish the results.

What role, if any, do you think City Council should have in setting standards for materials and programming available to minors in city-funded facilities and public libraries?

Set clear, viewpoint‑neutral policies that protect minors from explicit sexual or violent content, require age‑appropriate labeling, and empower parents with easy opt‑outs—without censoring lawful adult access.

What role do you believe parental consent and notification should play when a minor makes personal disclosures or requests support from a school counsellor, and what exceptions, if any, should apply?

Default to notifying and involving parents, with narrow exceptions only when there’s a credible, immediate risk of harm to the child if parents are contacted, documented by a qualified professional.

What steps would you like to see taken to increase transparency and accountability at City Hall?

Publish a public dashboard for all major spending (housing, safety, homelessness), track outcomes by block or project, hold quarterly public reviews, and tie new levies to audited results—not promises.

What public safety issues are you seeing in Kelowna, and how do you believe these issues should be addressed?

Open drug use, theft, and intimidation in public spaces are the top issues. Address them with visible enforcement: consistent bylaw/RCMP presence, enforced probation conditions, mandatory treatment or shelter acceptance for chronic offenders who want help, and real consequences for those who don’t.

What do you think can be done locally to bring down the cost of housing?

Increase compliant supply (legal suites, gentle density where infrastructure exists), cut red tape that blocks rentals, and tie any affordability spending to occupied units and retention—not just “beds added.”

What policies would you support to help stimulate Kelowna’s job market?

Fast‑track permits for job‑creating projects, keep business taxes predictable, and invest in skills training linked to local employers—while refusing “growth” that depends on tolerating crime or chaos.

What ideas do you have to better balance infrastructure and city growth?

Allow density where roads, water, and sewers can handle it; require developers to fund needed upgrades; and pause new projects until infrastructure gaps are fixed—growth must be orderly and enforceable.