Cumming Runs For Mayor

By Corey Fischer

Aug 7, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Victor Cumming is ready to take another shot at becoming Vernon’s mayor.

The 63 year old regional economist has announced he will seek the position in October’s municipal elections.

Cumming finished about 700 votes behind current mayor Akbal Mund, second in a five person race in 2014, and says he’s had plenty of people encouraging to try again.

“Coming second to Akbal and doing well with people who I hadn’t met before, just encouraged me to put my name forward again,” Cumming tells Beach Radio News.

Cumming says he has 35 years of professional experience, some as a consultant for other communities, which he feels he can put to use.

1.5 Hectare Blaze

Crews battling wildfire near Cherryville

1h ago

Too Hot for Dogs

Don't leave pets alone in hot vehicles: RCMP

2h ago

Smoky Skies

Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan

4h ago

“The key issues for Vernon really are attainable housing. It continues to be a significant issue, and that includes those at the bottom of the economic spectrum, but also those through the middle. It’s a challenging thing for cities like Vernon.”

Cumming says safety and business development are other key issues.

“Safety is always a key issue for people and that is square in the mandate for the City of Vernon.”

Cumming also puts a priority on Vernon being the “regional centre.”

“These issues that are in front of Vernon are really in front of the region, and how we deal with these issues is critical.”

He doesn’t have any specific criticism of the current mayor or council, and the job they’ve done since 2014.

“There are some things I would have thought would have been better if it had gone in another direction, but they were in the middle of it. They’re the ones who had to deal with the day to day complexity of it. I think some tremendous progress has been made on a number of fronts.”

Cumming has lived in Vernon since 1992, and is a long time member of the Ribbons of Green Trail Society.

“I’m also a soccer player, a walker, and a hiker. I have four kids, three who have stayed in the valley.”

Current Mayor Akbal Mund has not said if he plans to run again, but tells Beach Radio News he will make that decision by early September.

Art Gourley and former mayor Wayne Lippert have said they plan to seek the position.

Listen to an interview with Victor Cumming with Beach Radio’s Pete McIntyre: