Quality of life.
That's what Luke Stack is focused on as he campaigns for re-election again.
That means more recreation facilities which are in short supply in such a fast-growing city.
"We want to maintain the very reasons we came to Kelowna," said Stack.
"That means really good parks, that means recreational facilities. We have a great need for ice rinks, we have a great need for soccer fields, we have a great need for baseball diamonds, we have a great need for pickleball courts, we need to expand our beaches."
Stack has been on council since he was first elected to Kelowna City Council in 2008.
"It's a plus in some ways. I bring experience. I've been around the block a couple of times," he said.
"I think some regular turnover and change is healthy, but I think some experience and some of the people that have been around for a while, just brings some stability."
Stack considers community safety a top priority.
"We've had a lot of challenges," he said.
"It comes from crime, homelessness, vagrancy, some of those issues. The community really wants council to keep working on that."
Getting people into housing is part of that, and Stack is proud of how much supportive housing is now in place.
"We've helped work in partnership with bc housing to build over 300 units of housing. People are living in those units today," he adds.
"If we didn't have those I shudder to think what would be going on in our city."
On the issue of housing affordability, Stack said council needs to approve as much housing as possible, and he likes the high-rises.
"Generally, yeah, I do," he said.
"The UBCO tower is a little taller than I would like, but truthfully to get a UBC campus right in downtown Kelowna is a huge coup for the city."
He is looking forward to some amendments to the Official Community Plan to help guide council on where future buildings might go and how tall they should be.
"I do think we need to do more work on that," Stack said, "to make sure we come up with the right mix."
Stack recently retired from his role as CEO of the Society of Hope, a Christian organization focused on building and maintaining affordable housing.
But he is hoping to continue his work on council.
Whether he will or not is up to voters who go to the polls Oct. 15.
To check out all of the candidates, visit KelownaVotes 2022.
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