Sikora Calls for Earlier Mayoral Debates and Opens Town Hall to Other Candidates

Dustin Sikora says Osoyoos voters should not have to wait until nominations close before hearing the town’s declared mayoral candidates debate its most pressing problems.

['Dustin Sikora is pressing Osoyoos’s declared mayoral candidates to meet voters face-to-face, answer direct questions and begin debating the town’s major issues before the summer ends.', 'In his second video message of the 2026 municipal election season, Sikora said neither of the two publicly declared mayoral candidates accepted his recent debate challenge.', '“Spoiler alert: I got no takers,” he said.', 'According to Sikora, the incumbent has not responded publicly but declined the invitation privately. He said the explanation eventually provided was that any debate should wait until nominations close so all potential candidates have an opportunity to participate.', 'Sikora rejected that reasoning.', '“What does a debate between candidates who have publicly declared have to do with candidates who have not?” he asked.', 'Waiting for other people to enter the race does nothing to help residents evaluate those who have already put their names forward, he argued. If another candidate declares later, that person can participate in future debates.', '“As a publicly declared candidate, you should be ready to debate anywhere, anytime,” Sikora said.', 'He was equally critical of the other declared candidate, whom he described as the newcomer in the mayoral race. Sikora said that candidate declined his invitation to attend a town hall and has since backed away from a town hall of his own.', 'Sikora pointed to a public feedback poll which, he said, found that 74 per cent of participating voters wanted at least two debates before the end of summer.', 'The poll and its methodology were not independently detailed in Sikora’s announcement, but he said the result reflects a real concern: many seasonal residents will soon leave Osoyoos and could lose their opportunity to meet and question the candidates in person.', '“Dodging these invitations robs voters of the opportunity to see you up close,” he said. “This is simply an interview process. It is about figuring out who can do the job versus who merely wants a title.”', 'Water Placed at the Centre of the Campaign', 'Sikora made it clear that Osoyoos’s water and infrastructure problems will be central to the discussion he wants candidates to have.', '“We all know we have bad water. We all know we need to fix it,” he said. “This is not a politically left- or right-wing thing to do. Fixing the water is simply the correct thing to do.”', 'He also pushed back against the idea that past difficulties mean meaningful action is impossible.', 'Sikora said residents should examine what each candidate has actually accomplished—not merely what they promise to do if elected.', 'Among the questions he believes voters should ask are:', 'What are the largest problems the candidate has solved? What major projects have they managed? What skills and experience do they bring? What are their biggest accomplishments? How much personal investment do they have in the community? What evidence suggests they can deliver different results this time?', '“We need people who have proven they can win,” Sikora said. “We need people who have been on great teams and have done great things.”', 'He argued that successful leadership depends on people planning, communicating and working as a team rather than accepting excuses or becoming comfortable with poor results.', '“I’m tired of the excuses,” he said. “I’m tired of what we saw over the last four years.”', 'His closing message tied his call for political change directly to the water issue: “We need a clean sweep for clean water.”', 'Open Chair Offered to Every Candidate', 'Sikora will hold a public town hall at the Osoyoos Elks Hall on Saturday, August 15, from 10:30 a.m. until noon.', 'He is asking residents to attend with what he called their “most critical interviewer’s mindset” and question candidates as carefully as they would question someone applying to manage a major public portfolio.', 'Sikora said an open chair and working microphone will be available for any other mayoral candidate who wants to participate, whether that person has already declared or is still considering entering the race.', 'That offer, he said, will remain in place at his future town halls as well.', '“Let’s get in a room and talk,” he said.', 'Moving the Election Conversation Offline', 'A large part of Sikora’s message focused on the tone of local political discussion online.', 'He described residents as increasingly tired of what he called the “digital day of dysfunction,” where it takes little effort to be negative, destructive or distracting from behind a keyboard.', 'While acknowledging that email and online communication remain important—particularly for private questions and sensitive information—Sikora said serious community concerns are often poorly served by short posts and comment-section arguments.', '“There are people in this town who have real stories to share and passionate feelings to express, and they are not done justice if they are limited to online communication only,” he said.', 'His preference is for longer, face-to-face conversations in which residents know who is asking the questions and can see who is answering them.', '“Anything that can be said to or about a candidate online can be said to that candidate in person,” Sikora said.', 'Rather than continue feeding what he called “runaway digital bushfires,” Sikora said he intends to put more of his attention into town halls and direct exchanges with residents.', '“Meet in person, look each other in the eye and say what needs to be said.”', 'Dustin can be reached anytime via email at dustinsikora2026@gmail.com']