Municipal election candidates turn to humour, stunts and social media to stand out
With 37 candidates competing for eight seats on Kelowna City Council, some candidates are taking unconventional approaches to getting noticed.
Kelowna is gearing up for its municipal election, where 37 candidates are vying for eight council seats. To grab attention, some candidates are employing humor, stunts, and social media. Brady Rogers, a 33-year-old business owner, uses self-deprecating jokes on his campaign website and social media, stating he's unqualified but relevant. His online post even caught the eye of an American social media account, garnering international attention.
Teresa May, a long-time resident, stands out by wake-surfing on Okanagan Lake in a suit jacket and heels, aiming to be different and engage the youth. She hopes her campaign will inspire more people to vote, emphasizing the need for higher voter turnout.
West Kelowna candidate Garrett Millsap is taking a more lighthearted approach by featuring his 10-year-old Beagle, Cooper, on his campaign signs and joking that Cooper might get more attention than he does. Millsap hopes humor makes politics more appealing and encourages people to cast their votes.
Sociology professor Christopher Schneider from Brandon University explains that these unconventional tactics fit into a broader trend of self-presentation in the digital age, known as the "mediated self." While such behavior can help candidates stand out, it also poses a risk, as voters might not fully understand a candidate's platform. Municipal elections in British Columbia are set for October 17.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
