CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL
Kevin Kraft
City directory name: Kevin Aaron Kraft. Checked September 28, 2026.
Council candidate, Regional District Director and father prioritizing youth prevention, safety, water and agricultural resilience, and attainable housing choices.
Nomination checked September 28, 2026. Earlier platform and record research: September 8, 2026. Recent statements show their own review dates.
Candidate questionnaire received and reviewed September 14, 2026. Published with authorization; answers are the candidate’s own statements. [399]
Experience & background
Current Central Okanagan East regional director; background includes teaching, firefighting, farming and business. [47]
His campaign lists service with the Okanagan Basin Water Board, regional library and airport advisory bodies, alongside agricultural operations work and football organizations. These roles broaden his stated regional experience; each organization’s policies are not automatically his personal positions. [46]
Reports regional-board leadership, agricultural work, firefighting and teaching experience; his submitted portrait was reviewed. [399]
Issue positions
Campaign proposals are attributed positions. A blank area is an information gap, never an assumed vote against an issue.
IN THE CANDIDATE’S OWN WORDS
Candidate questionnaire · September 14, 2026
Answers supplied by the candidate and published with authorization. Conditional explanations are retained. Answers about past motions are hypothetical, not recorded votes.
Read the full response, priorities and affordability proposals ↗
Read all 25 quick-position answers
1. The City should shorten and simplify the process for approving new homes.
Yes / Support
2. The City should reduce development cost charges on new housing.
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: I support reviewing Kelowna's DCC structure to determine whether we are appropriately balancing housing affordability, development viability and the infrastructure needs of a growing city. I would not support simply shifting growth-related costs onto existing taxpayers. Any review should look at whether charges are discouraging attainable housing, whether different housing forms should be treated differently, and whether we are getting the right infrastructure for the cost. If we can reduce unnecessary costs and barriers while protecting the City's ability to responsibly fund growth, we should do it.
3. Restrictions on short-term rentals should be loosened.
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: I would support reviewing short-term rental restrictions where there is a demonstrated opportunity to provide tourism accommodation without disrupting neighbourhood stability or the social fabric of established communities. This should be approached carefully and on a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood basis, considering housing availability, parking, noise, safety, and impacts on long-term residents. Where STRs can operate responsibly without displacing needed long-term housing or creating significant community impacts, there may be an opportunity to allow greater flexibility. Any changes should include clear standards, enforcement, and regular review to ensure the community benefits.
4. The City should pursue expanded public transit service.
Yes / Support
5. Infrastructure and service capacity should be ready before major additional growth is approved.
Yes / Support
6. The City should advocate for expanded involuntary addiction-treatment capacity.
Yes / Support
7. The City should invest in wildfire prevention and preparedness.
Yes / Support
8. The City should carry out additional spending audits or operational reviews.
Yes / Support
9. The City should make individual councillors’ voting records easier to find and search.
Yes / Support
10. Would you have supported the October 27, 2025 electoral-reform study and conditional referendum-preparation motion? This bundled decision did not implement wards.
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: I support studying electoral reform, but any significant change should ultimately be decided by Kelowna voters. Before moving to a referendum, I would want clear information on the options, costs, benefits, and potential impacts on local representation. My priority is a system that encourages voter participation while maintaining strong, accountable representation for individual neighbourhoods and communities. Any reform should make local government more accessible and accountable—not more complicated.
11. Would you have supported the March 16, 2026 second and third land-use and rezoning readings for part of Kelowna Springs? These were not final adoption.
No / Oppose
12. Would you have supported the April 20, 2026 financial-plan and tax-funding motion, with its stated average net property impact of 4.40%? Individual bills vary.
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: I support maintaining the services Kelowna residents rely on, but every tax increase should come with accountability. Council needs to continually review spending, find efficiencies, prioritize essential services, and ensure taxpayers are receiving value for their money. As Kelowna grows, we need to make sure growth pays its fair share and that we are not simply downloading the cost of growth onto existing families and taxpayers.
13. The City should help expand co-operative housing and community land trusts.
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: I support exploring co-operative housing and community land trusts where they can provide attainable housing without placing an unreasonable burden on taxpayers. The City should look at partnerships, land, and streamlined approvals where there is a clear long-term community benefit, while maintaining accountability for public resources.
14. The City should strengthen protections for tenants displaced by redevelopment or renovations.
No / Oppose
15. The City should allow more small shops and cafés within residential neighbourhoods.
Yes / Support
16. The City should advocate for a second bridge crossing of Okanagan Lake.
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: A second Okanagan Lake crossing has been studied and discussed before — then shelved. It’s a conversation that needs to continue. Growth and seasonal traffic volumes are only getting worse. This is a provincial and federal responsibility, not a municipal one. I would support the dialogue around a second crossing if it comes up.
Editorial note: Candidate clarification added September 15, 2026. This replaces the previously unanswered entry; conditional answers remain unscored.
17. The City should invest in filling gaps in its sidewalk and cycling networks.
Yes / Support
18. The City should expand foot patrols in commercial areas experiencing crime and disorder.
Yes / Support
19. The City should support expanded non-police response teams for suitable mental-health and substance-use calls.
Yes / Support
20. The City should increase access to public washrooms.
Yes / Support
21. The City should prioritize protecting agricultural land when making land-use decisions.
Yes / Support
22. The City should strengthen protection for existing trees.
Yes / Support
23. The City should limit annual property-tax increases to inflation.
Yes / Support
24. Mayor and council pay increases should take effect only after the next election.
Yes / Support
25. Would you support a ward system for Kelowna, where residents elect councillors to represent defined geographic areas?
Conditional / Depends
Candidate’s explanation: I would support a hybrid council model with five Councillors elected at large, five Councillors elected by ward, and one Mayor elected city-wide. This would give Kelowna a balance between city-wide leadership and direct neighbourhood representation. At-large Councillors would be responsible for considering the broader interests of the entire city, while ward Councillors would provide residents with a direct advocate who understands the specific needs and challenges of their area. The Mayor would continue to provide city-wide leadership and accountability.
Housing & growth
Supports faster approvals and varied infill. Development-charge changes must protect existing taxpayers; rental-rule flexibility depends on neighbourhood impacts. Housing partnerships require public benefit. Opposes stronger municipal tenant protections as asked. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Supports attainable ownership through smaller detached homes and townhouses, with infrastructure keeping pace. [46]
Emphasizes attainable ownership through smaller single-family homes, townhomes and family-oriented neighbourhoods, rather than a numerical housing target. [46]
Safety & homelessness
Prioritizes youth sport, mentorship and prevention partnerships; supports treatment capacity, foot patrols and suitable non-police response teams. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Would support frontline responders and advocate for justice, addiction and mental-health capacity from senior governments. [46]
Transportation
Supports transit expansion, infrastructure readiness and connected walking/cycling networks. Conditionally supports continuing dialogue on a second Okanagan Lake crossing if it comes up, describing delivery as a provincial and federal responsibility rather than a municipal one. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Prioritizes road and underground-service capacity and long-term funding for growth. [46]
Taxes & spending
Supports inflation-limited property-tax increases, spending reviews and delaying council pay increases until after elections. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Wants core-service discipline and senior-government funding for new mandates. [46]
Business & jobs
Supports agriculture, innovation and fewer business barriers. [46]
Accountability
Proposes five ward councillors, five at-large councillors and a city-wide mayor. Supports public consultation, legally permitted closed-meeting reporting and independent end-of-term pay review. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Campaigns on transparent, accountable decisions and sustainable long-term funding. [46]
Climate, land & water
Prioritizes water storage, drought resilience, agricultural land, wildfire preparedness and tree protection. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Prioritizes farmland, water, local food systems and emergency resilience. [46]
Community & services
Selects spending review, local jobs and lower recreation fees for everyday affordability. [399]
Earlier campaign material: Emphasizes family neighbourhoods and local emergency resources. [46]
Recent public statements
What the candidate has said publicly, with links to the original sources.
Taxes and budget scrutiny · Reported campaign statement
Proposes a property-tax increase target of inflation plus half a percentage point, with scrutiny of internal costs and efficiencies first. Says major service or fire-equipment investments could justify exceeding it and acknowledges the appropriate margin is not settled.
KelownaNow’s written report of its October 10 forum and candidate questionnaire. Full video not independently reviewed. The proposal is a flexible target, not an unconditional cap.
Read the original source ↗How to read these statements
Voting record
Selected decisions, not a complete voting history. Follow each record for the full motion. Historical votes do not automatically establish current views.
Selected regional board decisions, not Kelowna city-council votes. Agricultural referrals and final land-use permission are different decisions.
Regional 2026–2030 financial plan with Option A reductions
RDCO board
Item 6.1 approved the plan and preparation of its bylaw. A weighted corporate vote; a director headcount is not the vote total.
Outcome: Carried; Cannan, Carson, Glasman and Kraft opposed
[13][16]Support an agricultural-land subdivision referral
RDCO board
The final motion supported application A-22-04 and forwarding it to the Agricultural Land Commission. This referral did not itself authorize subdivision. The published minutes are marked draft.
Outcome: Carried; Singh, Lovegrove, Ireland and Cannan opposed
Seconded the final support-and-forward motion; not named opposed.
[14]Amend regional Building Bylaw 1482
RDCO board
Item 6.1 gave readings and adopted amendment bylaw 1569. The minutes identify Kraft and Carson as opposed.
Outcome: Carried
[15]Business & finances
Public business & professional interests
Campaign describes farming and operating Homestead Foods, alongside outdoor and education work. No complete ownership valuation or land inventory was verified. [46]
Lists regional, water, library, airport, sport and wildlife-board roles; organizational positions are not automatically his personal positions. [399]
Personal net worth
No reliable, dated net-worth disclosure was verified in the reviewed sources. Business roles, real-estate interests, public remuneration and campaign donations cannot establish personal net worth. Submit information or a correction ↗
Campaign finances
Campaign receipts and expenses are separate from personal wealth. Historical Kelowna campaign filings can be searched at Elections BC. The City lists January 15, 2027 as the 2026 campaign disclosure deadline. [8][2]
Politics & broader policy
Political alignment & party history
Fiscal conservative — self-described
Described himself as fiscally conservative during his independent 2024 provincial run. Earlier that year sought the federal Conservative nomination; seeking a nomination is not the same as becoming the party’s candidate. [91][92]
Broader public & foreign policy
Dated personal statements, historical campaigns and organizational positions are distinguished below.
In a 2024 environmental-forum response, doubted BC would meet its emissions targets, supported practical electrification and argued LNG could help reduce global emissions. These are his historical positions; the claimed emissions benefit is not independently validated here. [93]
Announced an independent provincial candidacy in 2024 for Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream, stressing concerns about policies affecting families. That was a different election and office. [48]
Review status not recorded for this section. Missing information does not establish a position. Submit information or a correction ↗
Argues that provincial and federal governments should help finance infrastructure responsibilities created by their new requirements. [46]
This collection is selective. It does not claim to capture every interview, speech, social post or position held over a lifetime.
Contact & follow
Public links from the candidate’s campaign or an official directory.
Not yet verified: email, phone, social accounts. This does not mean the candidate has no account or contact channel.
Contact sources · checked September 13, 2026 (City directory base); later checks noted individually; older campaign contacts retain their original source
Campaign-linked accounts are listed as supplied by the campaign or election directory. Links and contact details can change; availability or a reply is not guaranteed.
Research gaps & questions
What still needs an answer
- No costed city delivery plan, housing output target or complete financial-interest inventory was supplied.
- His Kelowna Springs answer is hypothetical and is not a recorded council vote.
Questions worth asking
Editorial questions, not statements attributed to the candidate.
- How would his regional infrastructure approach translate to Kelowna’s urban growth?
- What criteria distinguish acceptable agricultural subdivision from farmland loss?
Sources & references
13 relevant sources · original publication and review dates appear below. Nomination checked September 28, 2026. Campaign pages describe what a candidate says; official records establish recorded actions.
Photo: City of Kelowna candidate listing
View original image · Checked September 6, 2026. Photographer and reuse licence not stated on the candidate listing.
- 1City of Kelowna — officially declared 2026 candidates
Official record · Declared September 18, 2026; declaration reviewed October 1, 2026. Campaign-directory links were separately captured September 28, 2026.
kelowna.ca - 149Reviewed public statement — Taxes and budget scrutiny
Campaign · October 11, 2026; reviewed October 13, 2026
kelownanow.com - 47Vernon Matters — regional director enters council race
Reporting · August 26, 2026
vernonmatters.ca - 46Kevin Kraft — campaign and professional background
Campaign · 2026 campaign; page undated
kevinkraft.ca - 399Kevin Kraft — submitted candidate questionnaire (public transcript)
Candidate questionnaire · Submitted September 14, 2026; reviewed and published with candidate authorization September 15, 2026
vote.oksoundsfun.com - 93SENS — candidate responses to environmental forum questions
Campaign · 2024 provincial election
sensociety.org - 48Vernon Matters — Kraft announces independent provincial run
Reporting · September 18, 2024
vernonmatters.ca - 13RDCO minutes — 2026–2030 financial plan, item 6.1, page 4
Official record · February 19, 2026
pub-rdco.escribemeetings.com - 16RDCO — directors and weighted voting
Official record · Current voting structure
rdco.com - 14RDCO draft minutes — agricultural subdivision referral, item 5.2, page 3
Official record · March 30, 2023
pub-rdco.escribemeetings.com - 15RDCO minutes — Building Bylaw 1569, item 6.1
Official record · May 15, 2025
pub-rdco.escribemeetings.com - 91Vernon Matters — Kraft describes his fiscal conservatism
Reporting · October 7, 2024
vernonmatters.ca - 92Vernon Matters — Kraft seeks federal Conservative nomination
Reporting · June 3, 2024
vernonmatters.ca