Penticton’s mayoral election is now a three-person race.
Corey Hounslow, the owner of Valley Ink Tattoos announced his candidacy for the position Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 7.
“I want to see a change in the way the public’s money is spent and the way things are going with homelessness and the crime problem we have in Penticton,” Hounslow told the Western News. “We have to take a new approach because what we have right now isn’t working.”
The Oct. 15 election will be Hounslow’s first-ever run at a position in public office.
Taking a closer look at housing in Penticton will be the candidate’s No. 1 priority.
“We definitely need to work on that because I think a lot of the issues we have, whether it’s crime or addiction, stem from housing,” he said.
Hounslow moved to Penticton in the early 1990s. His tattoo shop — located on 602 Martin Street — has been operational since 2008.
“This used to be such a vibrant town with a neat vibe to it and that’s slowly become a dead issue over the last few years,” Hounslow said.
The mayoral candidate says he wants to stand up for those who want real change, while having a realistic view of the challenges that face Penticton.
Hounslow joins current mayor John Vassilaki and councillor Julius Bloomfield as the three candidates, as of Wednesday afternoon, vying for the mayor’s seat.
Nominations papers can be filed until Sept. 9.
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