Nyuli to seek seat on city council
He was a fervent supporter of the Tournament Capital idea.
It’s now Raymond Nyuli’s goal as a city council member to do for the arts what the successful program has done for sports in Kamloops.
He announced his candidacy on Wednesday, June 29, making him the second non-incumbent to officially jump into the civic race.
Nyuli, a Kamloops resident for more than 20 years, said there is a “serious gap” in the arts in town, noting the city doesn’t have a modern performing-arts centre, nor a name-brand festival of some kind.
“For a city our size, we really should have something,” he said, praising the Tournament Capital program he promoted as a member of the city’s parks and recreation committee last decade.
Besides hoping to bring arts to the discussion table if elected, Nyuli also wants to improve relationships between local elected officials.
“I think there’s an opportunity to improve the working relationships on council, increase the level of respect a bit and get council working better as a cohesive team,” he said, adding he sees a gap in leadership and respect among elected officials.
Nyuli has also formed an opinion on one of two issues likely to dominate the civic election campaign.
The local businessman said he can accept a two-level underground parkade on Lorne Street, but does not support adding an above-ground third level.
Nyuli also believes the city is on the right track with the proposed Ajax mine by gathering information before forming an opinion.
Nyuli has owned Entertainment Management Associates since 2008, through which he books events.
He previously worked at Weyerhaeuser as director of information technology.
He is also the secretary of the Kamloops Squash Association and chairman of the Kamloops Campus Community Radio Society and was a information technology steering committee member during the 1993 Canada Summer Games.
Nyuli has a website for his candidacy (raymondnyuli.wordpress.com) and a Facebook page (“Raymond Nyuli for Kamloops City Council”).
On June 2, former councillor Arjun Singh was the first non-incumbent to announce his intention to run for a council seat.
There will be at least two new faces on council with John O’Fee’s departure earlier this year to join the Tk’emlups Indian Band as CEO and Jim Harker’s decision to move to Vancouver Island later this year.
Of the remaining council members John De Cicco has yet to confirm a re-election bid.
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