SCOTT TRUDEAU/Penticton Herald Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The lone Wolfe is once again seeking the Penticton mayor‘s seat. Fringe candidate Benny Wolfe stood on the steps of City Hall Tuesday to announce he‘s running for mayor. In 2008, Wolfe received 96 votes, finishing in last out of five candidates however he‘s confident he‘ll have a better showing this time. “Last time I ran nobody knew me from Adam,” he said. “I was a stranger. I was a person that nobody knew anything about. Now that I‘ve been here close to three years people know me.” In highlighting several issues, Wolfe stated Penticton has the greatest number of pawn shops per capita in B.C. and an extensive amount of paid parking. He feels the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and South Okanagan Events Centre need better promotion and that prices at the new Community Centre Pool are too costly for families to use on a regular basis. Private medical clinics will help boost the city economy, claimed Wolfe. “We need more doctors. We need more hospitals. We don‘t need people leaving the province . . . or going to the (United) States to go get medical treatment. We can provide that treatment right here in Penticton.” Other concerns he raised included keeping the RCMP detachment open 24 hours a day and the need for a women‘s shelter to be established in the city. Wolfe, 67, is willing to work with the other councillors if elected but noted that as mayor, he would be the person holding the reigns. “I would try to show direction. I would try to convince my fellow councillors the right way to do things,” he said. “I would speak out. I would not be afraid to speak out on behalf of the citizens and the businesses and other people of the area.” In his previous bid for mayor, Wolfe came down on the city for its lack of transparency in bringing forth pertinent issues to the public. He feels they‘ve taken steps to govern with more openness but need to do more. “They‘re just saying lip service because like I say, some of these councillors have lived in Penticton all their lives and they don‘t realize there‘s more to Penticton than what they claim,” said Wolfe. “They‘re got to broaden their horizons. They‘re got to forward think. They‘ve got to do something. Talk is cheap. I‘m the type of person who gets things done.” Wolfe is the first candidate to officially announce his intention at running for mayor. Incumbent Dan Ashton said he will likely run again but is considering a run at provincial politics should a vacancy become available. Three have announced their intentions to run for city council – incumbents Garry Litke and John Vassilaki and newcomer Helena Konanz. No school board candidates have yet to announce
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