Sitting councillor Fehr to seek re-election in Vernon

His decision to seek a third term on Vernon council stems from a commitment to continue helping the city navigate growth responsibly while protecting core community values. With that, Kelly [...]

Sitting councillor Fehr to seek re-election in Vernon Published 8:44 am Monday, July 13, 2026 His decision to seek a third term on Vernon council stems from a commitment to continue helping the city navigate growth responsibly while protecting core community values. With that, Kelly Fehr announced his decision Monday, July 13, to run in the municipal elections in October.

“Over the past eight years, our city has faced significant challenges and opportunities, from housing affordability and infrastructure pressures to community safety and long-term planning,” said Fehr. “I believe thoughtful, balanced, and evidence-based leadership matters now more than ever.” His campaign for a third term will focus on fiscal responsibility and accountability; housing diversity and affordability; climate adaptation and water security; sustainable infrastructure and recreation investment; public safety and community well-being; and collaborative regional leadership.

True community leadership, said Fehr, is “an ongoing journey.” He points out council has spent the last term building a solid foundation of data, smart growth principles, and community-backed blueprints, successfully bringing almost 88 per cent of the city’s 2023-2026 strategic plan initiatives to fruition or near completion. Planning, he said, is a valuable starting point, but true progress comes from working together to bring those visions to life.

And nowhere is that more clear, said Fehr, than with the new Active Living Centre, slated to open in the fall. “Following the community’s direction in the 2022 referendum, council was tasked with delivering this essential facility for our residents,” he said. “We didn’t just break ground and launch construction during this term; our team pushed the project forward so efficiently that it will officially open its doors to the public this November, shortly after the election.”

Originally elected to council in 2018, and successfully retaining his seat in 2022, Fehr said the next council term “must focus heavily on practical climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience.” “We are currently facing the urgent reality of our fifth consecutive multi-year drought and are now in Stage 3 water restrictions,” said Fehr, who is a city representative on the Regional District of North Okanagan board. “Environmental leadership can no longer be just a policy discussion for the future; it is about addressing the immediate climate realities affecting our local economy, agricultural stakeholders, and households.

“Moving forward, securing our water supply, investing in drought-resilient civic infrastructure, and expanding wildfire fuel mitigation will remain at the top of my priority list.” Fehr said his time on council has been guided by three principles: fairness, fiscal responsibility, and evidence-based decision-making. “I believe residents deserve a council that listens respectfully, manages taxpayer dollars carefully, and makes decisions based on facts rather than short-term pressures or political slogans,” said Fehr, who has served on the city and RDNO finance committees, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, and the North Okanagan Shuswap Regional Hospital District.

To learn more about Fehr’s vision for Vernon, you can visit kellyfehr.org. The municipal elections take place Saturday, Oct. 17.