Kevin Kraft is seeking the Conservative Party of Canada nomination for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Kraft/website)

By Liam Verster

federal politics

RDCO vice-chair is fourth person to seek local Conservative nomination

Jun 3, 2024 | 1:57 PM

The vice-chair of the Regional District of Central Okanagan is looking to move into federal politics.

Kevin Kraft, who is the director for Central Okanagan East on the RDCO, said Monday, (June 3) he is running for the Conservative Party of Canada nomination in the new Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee riding.

“I am deeply honored to announce that I am seeking the Conservative nomination to represent the residents as the candidate for our new federal riding, Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee,” Kraft said in a release.

Kraft is the fourth person to vye for the CPC nomination in the riding, joining Teresa Durning, Scott Anderson, and Rachel Enns.

The new riding, formed in April of 2024, is a split of the electoral districts currently represented by Conservative MPs Mel Arnold (North Okanagan-Shuswap), Tracy Gray (Kelowna-Lake Country), and Dan Albas (Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola).

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“With a new hub in the Central Okanagan comes the responsibility of creating strong relationships with the constituents, recreationists, industry and businesses, emergency services, community groups, and local governments. I aim to be reliable and accessible for this new riding and take those principles of governance to Ottawa,” Kraft stated.

“MP Gray, MP Albas, and MP Arnold have done an incredible job representing our communities. I would be both grateful and honored to carry on the torch in the years to come, and I wish the other nominees luck in this race and look forward to the candidate nomination election.”

Along with serving the RDCO, Kraft sits on the Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative Electoral District Association, the Airport Advisory Council, Okanagan Regional Library board, Okanagan Film Commission, and Okanagan Mainline Football Association. He is also an alternate director for the Okanagan Basin Water Board and the Okanagan Economic Development Forum.

Kraft said he wants to “bring back common sense in our federal government,” noting he is frustrated with the rising costs of living, issues involving crime and safety, and a “growing disconnect between the government and the people they represent.”