RICHARD GAUTHIER — CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE OK, Let's Vote — Kelowna's 2026 Election Guide School trustee candidate Submitted September 14, 2026, 10:16 a.m. Pacific time Reviewed and published September 14, 2026 Candidate-provided answers, published with authorization. Wording is retained; layout and question numbering are normalized. Editorial notes and unanswered optional questions are identified. Private contact email and internal records are excluded. These are the candidate's statements, not independently verified findings or an endorsement by the guide. ABOUT THE CANDIDATE 1. Which office are you seeking, and where can voters find your campaign and public contact details? www.richardgauthier.ca Facebook: Richard Gauthier for Trustee23 2. What experience would you bring to this role? Over 22 years working within School District # 23 - Central Okanagan. I've worked directly with students at every Secondary School, Middle School and numerous elementary schools. I've served on governance boards in the past. 3. What are your top three priorities, and one practical action for each? Stronger funding for schools - advocating along with whole board of trustees, as well as municipal government for increased funding per student at least at the level matching the rate of inflation. Belonging and Safety - Working with trustees, staff and partner groups and community to create Safe, Inclusive, Welcoming schools - advocating for Each Student, Every Student! Transparency and Accessibility - Open communication with families and community, as trustee, I may not have all the answers, but I will help direct inquiries to the proper place. 4. How would you keep your decisions transparent and remain accountable to residents? Direct community members to the public agendas of board meetings and encourage them to come prepared to ask questions during public questions periods, questions that can bring clarity to the public before a vote is convened. I would advocate that plain language, easy to understand summaries be made public in order for community members to have an easy to read and understand document. 5. Are there any affiliations or interests relevant to your candidacy that you want voters to know about? [Editorial note: No answer provided to this optional question.] 6. What else would you like added or corrected on your website profile? [Editorial note: No answer provided to this optional question.] QUICK POSITIONS 1. The City should shorten and simplify the process for approving new homes. Answer: Outside my role 2. The City should reduce development cost charges on new housing. Answer: Outside my role 3. Restrictions on short-term rentals should be loosened. Answer: Outside my role 4. The City should pursue expanded public transit service. Answer: Yes / Support 5. Infrastructure and service capacity should be ready before major additional growth is approved. Answer: Outside my role 6. The City should advocate for expanded involuntary addiction-treatment capacity. Answer: Outside my role 7. The City should invest in wildfire prevention and preparedness. Answer: Outside my role 8. The City should carry out additional spending audits or operational reviews. Answer: Outside my role 9. The City should make individual councillors’ voting records easier to find and search. Answer: Outside my role 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 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 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 13. The City should help expand co-operative housing and community land trusts. Answer: Outside my role 14. The City should strengthen protections for tenants displaced by redevelopment or renovations. Answer: Outside my role 15. The City should allow more small shops and cafés within residential neighbourhoods. Answer: Outside my role 16. The City should advocate for a second bridge crossing of Okanagan Lake. Answer: Outside my role 17. The City should invest in filling gaps in its sidewalk and cycling networks. Answer: Outside my role 18. The City should expand foot patrols in commercial areas experiencing crime and disorder. Answer: Outside my role 19. The City should support expanded non-police response teams for suitable mental-health and substance-use calls. Answer: Outside my role 20. The City should increase access to public washrooms. Answer: Outside my role 21. The City should prioritize protecting agricultural land when making land-use decisions. Answer: Outside my role 22. The City should strengthen protection for existing trees. Answer: Outside my role 23. The City should limit annual property-tax increases to inflation. Answer: Outside my role 24. Mayor and council pay increases should take effect only after the next election. Answer: Outside my role 25. Would you support a ward system for Kelowna, where residents elect councillors to represent defined geographic areas? Answer: Outside my role AFFORDABILITY Which actions would you prioritize to make housing more affordable in Kelowna? Answer: Outside my role Beyond housing, which actions would you prioritize to make everyday life more affordable in Kelowna? Answer: Outside my role Editorial context: “Outside my role” is not coded as support or opposition. The transit answer concerns City service; it does not establish school-board authority over transit. Publication authorization was confirmed in the submitted response. No supporting uploads or video/large-file links were provided.