What does history tell us about how many people will seek public office in Kelowna?

Photo: City of Kelowna

If history tells us anything about Kelowna civic politics, barely half of all people who feel strongly enough to consider a run for office in the summer, will actually follow through when push comes to shove.

As of the close of business Monday, 45 people had made the effort to pick up nomination papers for mayor, councillor or school trustee.

And, while that number is expected to rise over the coming days and weeks, the actual number who actually file completed paperwork and let their name appear on the ballot will likely be much lower.

Over the past two elections, less than 60 per cent of nomination forms were returned to city hall prior to the deadline which, this year, is Sept. 9.

In both 2014 and 2018, just 44 per cent of packages picked up for mayor were returned. For councillor, it was 61 per cent (2014) and 59 per cent (2018), while school trustees returned 67 and 71 per cent respectively.

Overall, 58 per cent of of people let their names stand come election day.

For the record, while seven papers have been taken out for mayor, 37 for council and just one for school trustee, city clerk Stephen Fleming says until paperwork is completed and returned to city hall, no one is officially running as of yet.

In 2011, a record 40 people let their name stand for councillor in Kelowna while the record for the mayors ballot is eight in 2014.