Councillor & regional district chair seeks NDP nomination

A two-term Kelowna city councillor is looking to make the jump to provincial politics.

Loyal Wooldridge has announced he will seek the BC NDP nomination for the new Kelowna Centre riding.

Wooldridge said after six years on council, including as chair of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, he is ready to push for ‘Made In Kelowna’ solutions in Victoria to the challenges facing the growing community.

“I’m passionate about serving my community and advocating for what matters to people in Kelowna,”Wooldridge said in a news release.

Wooldridge is also a business owner, community advocate, and volunteer who has lived in the Central Okanagan for 30 years and has witnessed the growth and changes.

”Kelowna deserves a voice in government so that people see local solutions in provincial decisions – it’s crucial to have a Kelowna lens focused on results for Kelowna,” Wooldridge said. “I support the bold efforts the BC NDP government has made to address big issues and contribute to healthy communities. We need to continue working hard to make more housing available, add more child care options, reduce congestion on the streets, make them safer, and strongly support business.”

The Kelowna-Centre riding includes the majority of Kelowna’s urban areas including downtown/Capri Landmark to suburban areas like McKinley Landing and Glenmore. Wooldridge has lived in Kelowna-Centre riding for the last 19 years.

The nominated candidates for the new riding are realtor Kristina Loewen for the BC Conservatives and retired doctor Michael Humer for BC United.

The provincial election will be held October 19, 2024.