Meet the Mayoral Candidates running in Quesnel

The 2026 Municipal Election’s General Voting Day is coming up on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The My Cariboo Now news team reached out to the candidates running for mayor in Quesnel to get their responses to a series of five questions about why they are running and what their visions are for the community if they were to get elected.

The five questions are:

1. May you provide a brief bio of yourself?
2. Why are you running for Mayor, and what makes you the best candidate for the position?
3. What do you see as the most important issues in Quesnel, and how do you plan to address them?
4. What is your vision for Quesnel?
5. What else would you like to add?

Here is how the the Quesnel Candidates answers.

Answers are in alphabetical order of the candidates’ last names.

Coralee Oakes:

1. I grew up in Quesnel and have a deep commitment to this community. I hold a degree in political science from the University of British Columbia and bring 18 years of elected experience at the municipal, regional, and provincial levels. I have served on Quesnel City Council, the Cariboo Regional District, and in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. I also served in provincial Cabinet as Minister responsible for Local Government and later as Minister responsible for Small Business and Reducing Red Tape. Outside elected office, I spent 14 years as Manager of the Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce, where I worked closely with local businesses, community leaders, and residents. I am also trained as a Business Retention and Expansion specialist and have volunteered with many local organizations. This combination of public service, business experience, and community involvement gives me the practical background to serve effectively as Mayor.
2. I am running because Quesnel needs pragmatic, experienced, and solution-oriented leadership. Our community is facing real challenges, including public safety concerns, pressure on local services, housing needs, workforce shortages, and economic uncertainty. At the same time, Quesnel has tremendous opportunities because of its people, businesses, natural resources, and strong sense of community. I am the best candidate because I bring the experience, skills, and relationships needed to build partnerships and get results. I understand how local government works, how provincial decisions affect communities, and how important it is to work with residents, businesses, Indigenous governments, community organizations, and senior levels of government. I will bring a steady, practical approach to the Mayor’s office, focused on listening, solving problems, and making decisions that strengthen Quesnel now and for the future.
3. My top priorities are public safety, fiscal responsibility, economic development, and housing with recovery supports. Public safety must include stronger coordination among the RCMP, Crown counsel, bylaw enforcement, Fire and Emergency Services, the health authority, outreach teams, and local service providers. We need visible patrol capacity, stronger responses to repeat property crime and street disorder, and advocacy to place Quesnel on the RCMP priority recruitment list. Fiscal management is also critical because our tax base is vulnerable and residents need confidence that core services and infrastructure are sustainable. City Hall needs to be “open for business “ reduce red tape, speed up permitting, and support our local businesses.  I would create a Mayor’s task force focused on workforce development and training. Housing solutions should include seniors’ housing, family supports, and permanent housing options linked with detox, treatment, sober housing, and recovery services.
4. My vision is for Quesnel to be a safe, affordable, and growing community where families and young people can build a future, seniors are well cared for, businesses can invest with confidence, and residents can rely on strong city services. I want Quesnel to be a place that supports opportunity while protecting the quality of life that makes this community special. That means maintaining core infrastructure, strengthening public safety, supporting local employers, expanding housing choices, and working with partners to improve access to treatment, recovery, and support services. It also means making practical decisions that respect taxpayers and focus on long-term resilience.
5. Quesnel has the people, natural resources, location, and community spirit to thrive. With experienced leadership and strong partnerships, we can build a future that is responsible, inclusive, and hopeful for residents of all ages.

Ron Paull (incumbent):

1. Summer of 1967, I left Fort St John family farm for my hitch with Royal Canadian Air Force; 1971, came to Quesnel for a weekend visit and stayed, selling ads for Cariboo Observer; 1973 thru 1996, senior management career at Quesnel Town / City Hall; 1996 thru 2017, successful business owner publishing Quesnel and Barkerville Visitors’ Guides; fall of 1996, first ran for municipal office and have since served 17 years as councillor, and last four years as mayor; volunteered 50+ years for many Quesnel community groups, starting with Quesnel Winter Frolics, then founding member of Quesnel Billy Barker Days. Married Pat Morton twice… first in 1991 in Shinto Temple in our sister city of Shiraoi, Japan, and then at Barkerville’s historic St. Savior’s Anglican Church.
2. Following my 21-year career of senior management experience at Town/ City Hall, and my 17 years of service on Council and my last four years as mayor, I’m ready for “One More Go” for three reasons.
   1) I have unfinished work and projects that I plan to see completed.
   2) With my 42 years’ combined appointed and elected service at Town / City Hall, I’m the only mayoral candidate that offers background knowledge for needed CONTINUITY, given the possibility of a totally new mayor and council.
   3) I absolutely love the work! My campaign acronym is “O.M.G.”… “One More Go”… City Hall is in my DNA!
3. There are many important issues, but space allows me to address my top two:
   Top Issue 1) A complex conglomeration of social and societal issues plagues all communities. Housing, health care, addictions, treatment, and associated social services are primarily the responsibility of the Provincial Government and its agencies. This cannot be resolved by Council alone, but Council can advocate and facilitate needed services, enable community-based land use decisions, protect businesses and neighbourhoods while ensuring overall community safety. Hopefully, an October 24th change of provincial government will bring much-needed change.
   Top Issue 2) To see the Province’s Highway 97 Interconnector advanced from “proposal” to funded “project” stage. Former Quesnel mayor and 1970’s MLA and Minister of Highways Alex Fraser was instrumental in advancing a couple of proposals for a “bypass”, but neither garnered support of downtown businesses, due to distance from downtown. Today’s “Interconnector” proposal, routed less than a kilometer from downtown, is widely accepted by businesses and the community, with positive support from all over North Central BC! The Interconnector will allow us to reclaim, rejuvenate, and reenergize our naturally beautiful downtown.
4. I participated with Council and community in shaping the City of Quesnel’s corporate vision… “A naturally vibrant, accessible and innovative community”. This nicely matches my personal vision for our City, with emphasis on the “innovative” element, with proactive “outside the box” responses and ideas for transitional challenges at many levels. I want to continue giving back to Quesnel, which is happily my “forever home”!
5. [N/A. Candidate did not answer].

Brian Waters:

1. My name is Brian Douglas Waters. I’m a Quesnel mayoral candidate with a background in construction, practical problem-solving, and independent thinking. I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult it can be for working people to get ahead when injuries, financial hardship, and housing costs get in the way. I believe in finding practical solutions rather than making promises that cannot be delivered.
2. I’m running because I believe Quesnel needs fresh ideas, practical leadership, and a stronger focus on the people who live here. I’m not a career politician, and I’m not running to get rich or make a name for myself. I want to see our community become more affordable, innovative, and self-sufficient. My construction background has taught me to look at problems, consider the available options, and find workable solutions.
3. Housing affordability, public infrastructure, local economic development, and the responsible use of taxpayers’ money are among the most important issues facing Quesnel. I want to explore practical, lower-cost housing options, support local businesses, and investigate innovative ways to improve infrastructure without automatically relying on expensive outside contractors. I would also push for greater transparency and accountability in municipal decision-making. Any proposals would need proper cost assessments, public consultation, and a realistic plan for implementation.
4. My vision is for Quesnel to become a community where people can afford to live, local businesses can grow, and new ideas have a chance to succeed. I want to explore opportunities in manufacturing, advanced transportation technology, renewable energy, and local fabrication. By making better use of local skills and resources, we could create jobs, attract investment, and build a stronger local economy. I want Quesnel to be known for what it can accomplish, not just for what it has lost.
5. I believe a mayor should listen to residents, ask difficult questions, and be willing to consider ideas regardless of who proposes them. I’m not claiming to have every answer, but I am willing to investigate alternatives and challenge the assumption that things must always be done the same way. Quesnel belongs to its residents, and its future should be built around their needs, opportunities, and quality of life.
   These responses reflect my current views and proposals based on the information available to me at this time. They may be revised as further research, practical considerations, and a better understanding of the issues provide new insights. I believe good leadership requires an open mind, a willingness to learn, and the ability to adjust proposals when better information or more effective solutions become available. My objective remains to find practical, economical, and responsible ways to improve the future of Quesnel and its residents.

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My Cariboo Now thanks the mayoral candidates in Quesnel for taking the time to respond to our questionnaire.

General Election Day is on Saturday, Oct. 17. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.