Submitted questionnaire

Humberto Morales

Business Development Consultant and Financial Advisor

This is the candidate’s public questionnaire. It is not a ForChange recommendation. The committee’s recommended candidates are published on the Candidates page.

01 · Why are you running for Kelowna City Council?

Since 2005 I have been interested in local politics and the decisions made by our mayor and Council to make sure that the City I call home since 2001 is the best in can be.
I remember doing my research before moving here and the biggest issue Kelowna had was "The traffic". Kelowna has changed a lot since then. In 2014 Kelowna's future was decided by its citizens when two mayoral candidates presented fundamentally different platforms, the Status Quo Vs. Progress and Growth.
While I was inclined to progress and growth I knew back then that the logical first step was to strengthen and develop public infrastructure before opening the flood gates of condos and residential areas, I am not sure that was a consideration acted upon and now we face the repercussions of those decisions.
I am running for City Council because my pragmatic, project management leadership style, I would break down and evaluate objectively every issue that lands on our Council Chambers with proper risk assessment and make sure that the impact of the outcome is positive NOT in the days or months to follow but measure it in the years and decades ahead.
02 · Issue #1: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

The Issue: Homeless and Crime
This is the top issue for all Candidates and the Citizens I have spoken to.
The first thing I would do is to call them for what they are and they are divided in three main groups and they can be helped accordingly by our City Council.
GROUP A: Homeless because HOUSING MARKET AFFORDABILITY.
GROUP B: Homeless because ADDICTION.
GROUP C: Homeless because MENTAL HEALTH
Identify the root causes is the first step, the proposed initiatives should mitigate Crime, Vandalism, Trafficking and disorderly conduct.
While one group can benefit from Low-cost modular housing, below market rental areas, etc, other can benefit from assesement-treatment-recovery progra.
City Council MUST become a strong voice at the Provincial Government and approach them with CLEAR SOLUTIONS so Kelowna is part of the solution and not the problem. I suggest implementing PILOT programs.
03 · Issue #2: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

The Issue: The opposite ends of the population, Children and Seniors, combined add up to approximately 40% of the population, the strain on city infrastructure is visible. After school activities, transportation, accessibility and affordable housing are involved.
I recognize the investment in recreational facilities and parks across the city, such as Glenmore and Parkinson, I would bring leveraging proposals to this facilities so after school programs for sports and arts are affordable.
I am the father of 4, and I believe that City Council needs to make sure Kelowna remains a city where young families can afford to stay, raise their children and build their future,
As a resident with a senior in this city, and recognize their needs and challenges, I would advocate for helping seniors to remain independent, connected and confident as Kelowna becomes larger and increasingly digital.
04 · Issue #3: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

Issue: Immigrant population surpasses 15% in Kelowna according to 2021 census, and 2026 could be pushing it to approximately to 20%.
As an immigrant myself I recognized that a strong community is created when we participate, contribute and respect our new home and remember the reasons for what we left our homes and came to Canada.
Kelowna has been a welcoming city for me and I wish to give back and assist newcomers wth opportunities to connect, participate and contribute.
I would support partnerships that help newcomers understand local services, municipal government, volunteering, community organizations and opportunities for civic participation and foster immigrant entrepreneurs so their businesses becomes a success and not a statistic.
05 · What experience, skills, and community involvement do you bring to the role?

My background is in Telecommunications engineering, Project management and Entrepreneurship, I’m a husband, a father, an entrepreneur, a business developer and a financial advisor.
For more than 25 years, I’ve been involved in visionary start-ups both personal and for others, I have designed, built and operated various multi national projects, I have solved problems, managed resources and, most importantly, working and collaborating with people.
Every time, those experiences taught me that before you can solve a problem, you have to understand it, dissect it, define what success would look like after implemented and measure it, I excel at that.
I’m not a career politician, I have the skills to bring objectivity to the table and trust in the combined capacity a well rounded Council should have, I would bring balance to the table.
06 · How will you approach council decisions when priorities compete for limited resources?

Time and money have always been part of my business life, and managing both is crucial for a successful business. I believe City Council has to consider the combined effect for public safety, affordability, economic development, infrastructure, culture, etc.
About time, the decisions we make today should not only solve today's problems; they should prepare Kelowna for the years and decades ahead.
I will study and understand the City's budget, spending/investing, infrastructure capacity, projected population growth and the true cost-benefit of proposed solutions. We will ask: Is it necessary? Is it effective? Can we afford it? What are the risks?
Resources are limited, everything can not be deployed at once. Priorities must be based on need, measurable community benefit, fiscal responsibility and long-term value. I would propose running Pilot Programs to monitor effectiveness and not simply take care of the squeaky wheel first.
My approach will be pragmatic.
07 · How do you work with people who see an issue differently than you?

Many years ago I learned the ability to put myself in the shoes of someone that has a different point of view than mine, it is called Empathy.
I understand fully that that person has the same basic needs as me, to provide, to protect and to defend his/her right to express an opinion based on his personal background and experience.
I look to understand where they are coming from by listening intently, once I have established the why his opinion is different If I see a gap to fill in I contribute, If I see a gap in my understanding I fill it in as well.
I don't hold all the answers and I don't pretend to be smarter than others, but I use empathy and listening to learn or share knowledge to find common ground and despite of the differences move forward.
Sometimes respectfully agree to disagree is the best solution.
08 · What else should voters know about you?

I am not a career politician. I am a husband, a father, an entrepreneur, a financial advisor and a Kelowna resident, I am truly addicted to my family, an astronomy aficionado and I genuinely care about this City I call Home.
I don't expect to arrive at Council with all the answers. I will collaborate and find the answers with the team I am with.
I believe in collaboration, I believe in compassion, but also accountability, I support growth, but growth that is responsible.
Deciding who seats in Kelowna City Council is the people of Kelowna responsibility, I will be accesible to you, not just during campaign but also during my time serving you.

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