A Kamloops Crown Prosecutor is the third person to add his name to the list of people hoping to outgoing MP Cathy McLeod.

Frank Caputo will seek the Conservative nomination in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding ahead of the next federal election. He has served as the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding association president for three one-year terms.

“Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo is a beautiful region with hard-working people, but it is facing some challenges. We need safer streets, lower taxes, and federal funding for more doctors and healthcare workers,” Caputo said in a statement, announcing his bid to seek the nomination.

“Many businesses and jobs in our region depend on industry. I know this personally because my father was a millworker, which meant that forestry fed my family. I am committed to fighting for jobs throughout the riding.”

A Crown prosecutor and part-time instructor at Thompson Rivers University, Caputo has a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Laws from the University of Alberta.

“Diversity is a hallmark of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. Having been involved with the Conservative Party for about the past ten years, I remain keen to listen to the priorities of my constituents, whether a constituent comes from Vavenby to Barriere to Clearwater, the Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwepemc Nation, 100 Mile House or Kamloops,” Caputo added.

“Being the child of Italian immigrants, work ethic is important to me and I will work hard for everyone in our diverse riding.”

Caputo joins Tourism Kamloops CEO Bev DeSantis and Tobiano developer Mike Grenier as potential Conservative candidates after Cathy McLeod announced she would not be seeking a fifth term as MP.

The next federal election is currently scheduled for for Oct. 2023, though with a minority government in place, a snap election could be called any time before that.

(Photo submitted)