A new municipal political slate has officially entered the Kamloops civic election, with mayoral candidate Nelly Dever announcing she will run alongside three council candidates under the banner “Pivot Kamloops,” a group positioning itself as a non-partisan, “big tent” team focused on governance reform, fiscal restraint, and community safety.
Dever, a Kamloops businessperson and former city councillor, launched her campaign Thursday near the Kamloops Airport alongside council candidates Dennis Giesbrecht, Kathrine Blair-Wunderlich, and Randy Sunderman.
The event, originally planned for May 13 at Fulton Field Park but delayed due to weather, formally introduced the slate and its shared platform priorities.
The four candidates said their campaign will focus on restoring decorum and civility in council chambers, improving fiscal management, strengthening community safety, and supporting economic vitality.
“We’re following a road map to get Kamloops back on track,” Dever said during the announcement. She added that the slate is intended to reflect collaboration rather than control of council, noting, “We understand that you require collaboration and teamwork.”
Dever emphasized that even if all four candidates are elected, the group does not intend to operate as a voting bloc or majority faction. “We agree on a lot of things, but there are other things where we see different pathways,” Sunderman said, adding that independent decision-making would remain part of how they approach council work.
Dever, who previously served on council from 2011 to 2014, said she was motivated to run after being approached during the period surrounding the Build Kamloops alternative approval process debate. She also pointed to her leadership of an organized group opposing a performing arts centre proposal in 2015.
She said her top priority, if elected mayor, would be exploring public-private partnerships for municipal facilities, both existing and future developments. “It reduces the tax burden on the taxpayers,” she said, while also supporting private-sector involvement in civic infrastructure.
Dever also said she would take a “thorough look” at the proposed Kamloops Centre for the Arts, while acknowledging existing contractual obligations would need to be considered.
Blair-Wunderlich said her campaign will prioritize seniors’ issues and affordability concerns, arguing that many residents are being “taxed out of their houses.” She also reiterated the need for greater taxpayer involvement in municipal decision-making, saying, “You should be the guest of honour.”
Blair-Wunderlich previously launched a court challenge against the city’s use of the alternative approval process in 2024 and said that effort contributed to improved public notification practices.
Giesbrecht, a former B.C. Conservative candidate, said his focus would be community safety, including support for frontline responders and expansion of Community Services Officers.
Sunderman, who has previously run for the provincial Green Party, said his priorities include expanding non-property tax revenue sources and improving affordability through targeted housing development, including seniors’ housing in the downtown core. “Every tax dollar we spend, every project we undertake, has a clear and sustainable case,” he said.
Both Giesbrecht and Sunderman ran for Kamloops council in 2022. Sunderman finished 9th in the race with 6,927 votes, while Giesbrecht finihsed 11th in voting with 6,734 votes. Nancy Bepple won the final spot around the council table with 7,745 votes.
The Pivot Kamloops candidates also signed a pledge outlining their shared principles, including commitments to professionalism, accountability, and responsible fiscal planning, while stating the group would not operate as a coordinated voting bloc.
The slate is now formally in the field ahead of Kamloops’ municipal election on Oct. 17, with campaign activity expected to increase in the coming months as candidates begin community outreach and policy rollouts.
-With files from Paul James
