ASHOK KUMAR VERMA — CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE OK, Let’s Vote — 2026 Election Guide Office: SD23 trustee — Kelowna Submitted September 30, 2026, 16:07 Pacific; reviewed October 1, 2026. The candidate completed the Kelowna municipal questionnaire. These are his authorized, attributed answers to those municipal questions, not answers to the separate trustee survey, verified outcomes, recorded votes or Candidate Match scores. Private contact details and technical identifiers are excluded. An uploaded attachment has not been reviewed and is excluded. Original wording retained; whitespace normalized. 01 · Your candidacy and priorities Answer: SCHOOL TRUSTEE https://ashok-verma-sd23.netlify.app/ Give a short biography focused on experience relevant to the office. What would you bring that voters cannot learn from a job title? Answer: I am bringing a diverse background spanning multiple disciplines: Education & Research: Background in elementary-to-university level teaching, graduate and postgraduate research in Physics, Glacial-Hydrological research in High altitude Himalayan river basins in India and Permafrost research (Yukon, Northwest Territories) for water resources planning and a Bachelor of Education from UBC, Vancouver Business & Finance: Experience in financial services (investments, insurance, mortgages) and co-operating a Rutland childcare centre. Community Leadership: Active local volunteer, including former Ex Vice-President of the Navy League of Kelowna, Youth soccer coach (RYSA), Air Cadets volunteer, and supporter of Mamas for Mamas. President of UBC Acadia Housing Association, Vancouver. What are your three highest priorities for the next term? For each, give a first-year action, a measurable result and a realistic timeline. Answer: Promote Inclusion and Diversity: Bring diverse leadership to the board that fosters and values dynamic, varied perspectives. Combat Hunger and Student Anxiety: Champion a universal meal program providing breakfasts and lunches across all school communities. Upgrade Facilities: Review and improve infrastructure in high-density areas to keep up with growing enrollment. As school trustee, my priority is to aggressively advocate for the funding and resources our community deserves. Our district's needs are expanding, and it is my solemn duty to ensure higher authorities hear that call loud and clear. We are here to secure the vital financial support necessary to empower our students, back our teachers, and strengthen the entire school community. How would you handle conflicts of interest, lobbying, gifts, campaign support, closed meetings and recusal? What additional disclosure or independent oversight would you support? Answer: The plan of action will be available soon for transparency and accountability. Thanks Disclose business ownership, employment, directorships, development interests, paid advisory roles or other financial interests relevant to the office. Give public sources and explain how you would handle related decisions. Do not include home addresses, account numbers or confidential documents. Answer: No affiliations or interests Which actions would you prioritize to make housing more affordable in Kelowna? Answer: "Speed up and simplify housing approvals, Allow more housing in areas with infrastructure and services, Protect existing rental housing and tenants, Use public land for affordable housing, Partner on non-market, co-op and affordable rental housing, Reduce development fees, with a plan to fund infrastructure" Beyond housing, which actions would you prioritize to make everyday life more affordable in Kelowna? Answer: "Review municipal spending to limit taxes and fees, Expand affordable public transit, Partner to improve access to affordable childcare, Plan walkable neighbourhoods close to daily needs, Reduce recreation and community-program fees, Support local jobs and business opportunities" What important issue did we miss? Add any policy position, clarification or response to the existing guide that you want voters to consider. Answer: for more information, visit our website https://ashok-verma-sd23.netlify.app Video and large-file links (optional) Answer: not available 1. The City should shorten and simplify the process for approving new homes. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 2. The City should reduce development cost charges on new housing. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 3. Restrictions on short-term rentals should be loosened. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 4. The City should pursue expanded public transit service. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 5. Infrastructure and service capacity should be ready before major additional growth is approved. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 6. The City should advocate for expanded involuntary addiction-treatment capacity. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 7. The City should invest in wildfire prevention and preparedness. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 8. The City should carry out additional spending audits or operational reviews. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 9. The City should make individual councillors’ voting records easier to find and search. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 10. Would you have supported the October 27, 2025 electoral-reform study and conditional referendum-preparation motion? This bundled decision did not implement wards. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 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. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 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. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 13. The City should help expand co-operative housing and community land trusts. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 14. The City should strengthen protections for tenants displaced by redevelopment or renovations. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 15. The City should allow more small shops and cafés within residential neighbourhoods. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 16. The City should advocate for a second bridge crossing of Okanagan Lake. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 17. The City should invest in filling gaps in its sidewalk and cycling networks. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 18. The City should expand foot patrols in commercial areas experiencing crime and disorder. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 19. The City should support expanded non-police response teams for suitable mental-health and substance-use calls. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 20. The City should increase access to public washrooms. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 21. The City should prioritize protecting agricultural land when making land-use decisions. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 22. The City should strengthen protection for existing trees. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 23. The City should limit annual property-tax increases to inflation. Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied. 24. Mayor and council pay increases should take effect only after the next election. Answer: Outside my role Explanation: No explanation supplied. 25. Would you support a ward system for Kelowna, where residents elect councillors to represent defined geographic areas? Answer: Yes / Support Explanation: No explanation supplied.