Submitted questionnaire

Todd Sanderson

CPA, CA

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

1. 01 · Why are you running for Kelowna City Council?

   I am running for Kelowna City Council because I care deeply about this community and believe my financial experience, independent judgment, and record of community leadership can help Kelowna navigate the significant decisions ahead.

   Kelowna has been my home for most of my life. I grew up in Rutland, raised my three children here, and now live downtown. From various leadership positions within the city, I have seen Kelowna grow from a relatively small community into one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. That growth has created tremendous opportunities, but it has also brought serious challenges involving affordability, public safety, homelessness, infrastructure, taxation, and the preservation of our quality of life.

   I am not running because I believe I have all the answers. I am running because I know how to ask difficult questions, analyze complex financial and operational information, listen to different perspectives, and make responsible decisions. I want residents to feel heard and to have confidence that Council is carefully managing their tax dollars while planning responsibly for Kelowna’s future.

2. 02 · Issue #1: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

   Public safety, homelessness, mental health and addiction: Residents and businesses must feel safe, while people experiencing homelessness, mental illness or addiction need meaningful help. I would support coordinated action among the City, RCMP, bylaw services, health agencies and housing providers; stronger enforcement against violence, property crime and threatening behaviour; and measurable investments in treatment, recovery and supportive housing. Council cannot control healthcare or the justice system, but it can influence policing priorities, bylaws, land use, public-space management and funding partnerships. It can also strongly advocate to the provincial and federal governments for the resources Kelowna needs. We must combine compassion with accountability and public safety.

3. 03 · Issue #2: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

   Financial responsibility, infrastructure and taxpayer value: Kelowna must fund essential services and infrastructure while recognizing that residents and businesses are facing rising costs. I would support a thorough review of City programs and expenditures (based on Effectiveness & Efficiency), multi-year financial and infrastructure planning, clear & transparent reporting, and clear business cases for major projects—including long-term operating and replacement costs. Programs should have measurable objectives and be regularly evaluated for results and effectiveness.

   Council directly controls the municipal budget, property-tax requirements, borrowing, capital priorities and many City fees. I would protect essential services, distinguish needs from wants, and ensure residents receive demonstrable value for every tax dollar spent.

4. 04 · Issue #3: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome.

   Housing affordability and responsible growth: Kelowna needs more attainable housing, but growth must be supported by roads, transit, water, sewer, parks and emergency services. I would support faster, more predictable approvals for compliant projects; diverse housing choices; appropriate density where infrastructure can support it; and a review of municipal delays, processes and fees that add unnecessary costs.

   Council directly influences zoning, permitting, development charges, infrastructure investment and long-term planning. It cannot control interest rates, construction costs or the broader housing market, but it can control how the City deals with development. Council must therefore focus on the factors it can influence while advocating for more provincial and federal investment in housing and infrastructure.

5. 05 · What experience, skills, and community involvement do you bring to the role?

   I am a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant with more than 35 years of experience. Throughout my career, I have helped businesses and individuals analyze difficult situations, manage financial risk, improve operations, and plan for the future.

   I have served as a partner with both Grant Thornton and BDO Canada and operated my own accounting and advisory firm. I was also part of the City of Kelowna’s external financial-audit team for approximately five years. That experience gave me insight into municipal finances, internal controls, accountability, and the importance of responsible stewardship of public funds.

   I have served as President of the DKA, President of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, founder and President of URBA. In addition I have been President of the Rutland Park Society and treasurer of the following: Cops for Kids Society, Okanagan Sun Football Society, Okanagan Symphony Society, and UDI Okanagan. I have been a member of the RDCO EDI, the YMCA/YWCA Capital Campaign Study team, and member of various City of Kelowna advisory committees.

   In addition, I was named finalist for the City's Man of the year in 2015.

6. 06 · How will you approach council decisions when priorities compete for limited resources?

   Council will always face more requests than the City can responsibly fund. The answer cannot simply be to increase taxes or defer every difficult decision to the future.

   I would evaluate competing priorities by asking:

   Is this an essential municipal responsibility?
   What specific problem are we trying to solve?
   What evidence shows that the proposed action will work?
   What will it cost initially and over its entire life?
   What other priorities will be delayed or displaced?
   How will success be measured and publicly reported?
   Is another level of government or organization responsible for part of the solution?
   Can the same outcome be achieved more efficiently/effectively?

   My priority would be protecting essential services, public safety, core infrastructure, and the City’s long-term financial stability. New initiatives should have clear objectives, realistic budgets, defined accountability, and measurable outcomes.

   Every decision has a cost, including the opportunity cost of what cannot be funded as a result. Residents deserve to understand those trade-offs before Council makes its decision.

7. 07 · How do you work with people who see an issue differently than you?

   I begin by listening. Disagreement is not necessarily an obstacle; it can help identify risks, assumptions, and consequences that might otherwise be missed.

   I try to understand not only what someone believes, but why they believe it. Often, people who disagree on a proposed solution still share the same underlying goal. Establishing that common ground makes a constructive discussion possible.

   Throughout my professional and community work, I have had to bring together people with different interests, personalities, and priorities. My approach is to remain respectful, focus on the facts, ask questions, and avoid making disagreements personal.

   I will not agree with everyone, and I do not expect everyone to agree with me. However, I will explain my reasoning, remain open to better information, and treat every person with respect. Once Council makes a decision, I will continue working professionally with all members of Council to serve the community.

   Good leadership is not about winning every argument. It is about making the best possible decision after listening carefully, considering the evidence, and understanding the consequences.

8. 08 · What else should voters know about you?

   I am an independent thinker. I will approach every decision based on what I believe is in the best long-term interest of Kelowna—not according to ideology, special interests, or pressure from any particular group.

   I believe residents deserve more than general promises. They deserve clear priorities, honest explanations of trade-offs, responsible management of public funds, and measurable results.

   My campaign reflects that approach. I am committed to listening directly to residents, being accessible, and conducting an environmentally practical campaign that limits unnecessary signs and flyers wherever possible.

   Kelowna is not simply where I live. It is the community where I grew up, raised my family, built my career, and served in numerous leadership roles. I am offering my experience because I believe Kelowna’s next four years will require thoughtful planning, financial discipline, collaboration, and leadership grounded in practical experience.

   If elected, I will arrive prepared, ask the necessary questions, listen respectfully, and make decisions with integrity. I will never forget that Council is entrusted with the residents’ community, their tax dollars, and their future.

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