Incumbent Kamloops councillor Bill Sarai says he will seek a third term on city council, positioning himself as a candidate focused on public safety, infrastructure pressures and maintaining strong ties with senior levels of government.

Sarai made the comments during his Thursday afternoon announcment outlining his decision to run again, arguing that continuity and experience are needed on a council that will soon face another municipal election on Oct. 17 in Kamloops.

“A fresh start of all of council, I think, would be putting council back five to six years,” Sarai said, pushing back against criticism from some residents who say they want change at city hall. “You need experience, you need leadership, but you also need people that have built relationships on both levels of government.”

Sarai, who is also president of the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA), said his regional role has helped him advocate directly to provincial decision-makers on issues affecting Kamloops and other Interior municipalities.

“Being the president of SILGA has given me a seat at the provincial table,” he said, noting he has engaged with ministers on issues ranging from housing to public safety.

Public safety was identified as his top priority heading into a potential third term. Sarai said he continues to support stronger policing measures, including expanded RCMP foot patrols, and more coordinated responses to people experiencing addiction and mental health crises.

“Priority one is involuntary and voluntary care. That has to be the number one priority,” he said. “There’s prolific offenders that are in our city that are causing 90% of the issues that our business communities are facing.”

He also argued that municipalities need more tools and provincial support to address those challenges, saying current approaches are not producing enough visible results on the street.

Sarai said infrastructure and housing pressures are another major concern, particularly as the province pushes for more infill and higher-density development in established neighbourhoods.

“When you’re starting to put four to six units in an old lot, the pressure you’re putting on that infrastructure under the ground is enormous,” he said, adding that municipalities need more funding support to avoid overloading aging systems.

He pointed to his work on housing and development files during his current term, as well as his involvement in airport and regional planning initiatives through the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and other boards, as evidence of his ongoing contribution.

Sarai also referenced major housing initiatives he has supported, including work tied to large-scale developments and provincial partnerships, saying those efforts require long-term relationships with senior governments to advance.

The councillor’s announcement comes as several new candidates have already entered the race for Kamloops council, including longtime mill worker Doug Ronnquist, who has pitched a “common sense” platform focused on fiscal restraint, neighbourhood safety and reducing reliance on alternative approval processes for borrowing.

Other declared or potential candidates include Rob Bertrand, Cindy Sonne, Nevin Webster and Joe Mauro, alongside incumbents Dale Bass and Nancy Bepple, who have also indicated they intend to run.

Sarai acknowledged growing frustration among some voters with council’s direction over the past term, but said municipal work is often slower and more complex than critics assume.

“Eight hour meetings are just taking 11 to 12 hours,” he said. “We’re still doing the work. It’s just taking longer.”

He also addressed past controversy during his term, saying he has taken responsibility for his actions and remains confident in his ability to serve.

“I came forth and gave an apology,” he said. “I wore it, I learned from it… and it will never happen again.”

On the campaign itself, Sarai said he does not plan to run as part of a slate and will instead campaign independently, focusing on his record and priorities.

As the race for council begins to take shape, Sarai said voters will ultimately decide whether experience or change is the right direction for the city’s next four years.

-With files from Paul James