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Row answering God’s call to seek Kelowna mayor’s position

A former Sylvan Lake recreation department employee has his sights set on becoming Kelowna’s next mayor.

A former Sylvan Lake recreation department employee has his sights set on becoming Kelowna’s next mayor.

Kelly Row, a self-professed ‘follower of Jesus Christ’ said he is answering God’s call to seek the mayor’s chair, according to an announcement in the Kelowna News online July 14.

“The reason I am running is because of my relationship with God, it’s not for me. It’s not something I necessarily aspire to,” the newspaper quoted Row.

“I am hoping to run on a platform where it’s about God and God first. He needs people that understand and listen to him and are in a relationship with him in places of leadership.”

Row, 46, grew up in Red Deer and spent seven years with Sylvan’s recreation department before moving to Kamloops as a news/sports reporter. He’s been in Kelowna for the past two years and is currently a frontline worker at the downtown Gospel Mission.

Explaining his decision to seek the mayor’s position rather than a seat on council, he said, “I believe we need someone of the Christian faith over top of the city as mayor. That’s my belief and where I sit with God. I believe he’s spoken to me about these things. I’ve looked into it to see if there are any candidates coming up that I can support. I felt like this was my call.”

Mayor Walter Gray has announced he would not seek another term during the November election. Only one other candidate has so far declared, current Councillor Colin Basran.