Meet the two running for Mayor in the District of 100 Mile House

With General Voting Day for the 2026 Municipal Election on Saturday, Oct. 17, there are two Mayoral candidates in 100 Mile House.

My Cariboo Now got in touch with the candidates and asked them a small five-question questionnaire about why they are running and the vision they have if they were to become Mayor of the District of 100 Mile House.

The five questions were:

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 100 Mile House, and how do you plan to address them?
4. What is your vision for 100 Mile?
5. What else would you like to add?

Here are the candidates’ answers.

Answers are in alphabetical order of the candidates’ last names

David Jurek

1. I have worked in real estate for 24 years, including the past 11 here in 100 Mile House. After purchasing a small brokerage, I brought together the right people and grew it into the local market leader. I sold the brokerage three years ago and have since focused on serving my real estate clients while promoting our lifestyle, local businesses, and the people and places that make this community so special.
2. I am running because I believe a fresh perspective can help 100 Mile House grow in the right way, attracting professionals, businesses, and industry while improving life for those who already call this community home. I am a relationship-builder with a proven ability to bring people together, build strong teams, and turn ideas into results.
3. Attracting professionals and new industry must be priorities. We need to actively promote the lifestyle and opportunities our area offers while making it easier for responsible businesses to invest and establish themselves here. Rather than creating roadblocks, the District should be a constructive partner, helping good companies get established, supporting worthwhile projects, and ensuring newcomers know they belong.
4. My vision is for 100 Mile House to be exceptionally good at being a small town: a vibrant downtown that attracts visitors, a diverse economy that creates meaningful careers, and a welcoming community where you can still walk into a coffee shop and people know your name
5. If you are looking for fresher air, brighter stars, scenic roads, and life by the lake, 100 Mile House and the South Cariboo may be for you. This is a wonderful place to build a life, and I want more people to discover it.

Maureen Pinkney (incumbent)

1. I am Maureen Pinkney, born in 100 Mile House, raised in an entrepreneurial family, own Tin Cup Bistro, and have family holdings of commercial buildings.
   Long-time volunteer, starting at 11 years old as a candy striper, cadets, snowmobile club, Wranglers hockey team, and always helping out somewhere.
2. I am running for re-election for the mayoral position as I feel we are at a critical point in time, when all of the hard work we have been doing over the past 4 years will finally come to reality.  It takes time and effort to make the connections in business, different levels of government, and navigate the economy and the competitiveness of all small and large towns drawing on the same industries and people.
   I believe I am the right person for the next 4 years, as I have made those connections, rallied, and raised awareness of 100 Mile House’s unique position to be the right place to do business.  We are here to help.  We have made our industrial lands attractive with low taxes.  We are a friendly and safe community with affordable housing and a vast outdoor lifestyle.
3. 100 Mile House has 3 urgent priorities that I feel are of the utmost importance, and door knocking with our residents confirmed that they also feel these are their top concerns.
   1. 100 Mile House needs better water. We need to replace our water treatment plant, as the hard water is really affecting everyone’s infrastructure, including the district’s.
   2. Taxes – keeping it affordable. Everyone noted the state of some of our streets and sidewalks, but would rather wait for grants, new industries, anything to deal with the potholes rather than taxes going up to fix all that needs fixing. We have a lot of residents on fixed incomes, and that is not just seniors; we have a large number of families with young children. You can only afford so much.
   3. Jobs. We need small businesses, medium businesses, and large industry to set up shop here and give people who are here, or commuting to work, the ability to improve their lifestyle. We need to attract more young families with the opportunities we have to enable them to grow.
4. My vision for 100 Mile House is to have the thriving small town that I grew up in back in place.  That was healthy young families and generations, with elderly having the proper facilities to live out their lives stress-free.  We need more intermediate seniors living.  We need more affordable higher-density housing.  We have a vast industrial park that can be expanded and enable jobs for hundreds of workers, making 100 Mile the best, most affordable, friendly, and safe community to raise your child and stay for generations.
5. In the end, every small town is trying to do the same thing. Attract health care professionals, increase employment opportunities, and provide an affordable and safe place to reside. The fact is that 100 Mile House is ready, with the stage set for this to happen very quickly. Too many of our key economic drivers lie with the Provincial Government, and even these days, globally. Everyone is affected by high prices, uncertainty, and global economies, but when you are small, an equally small change can be the pivoting point to get the ball rolling. We can do that, but you need the right leader in the seat. I believe that I am the right leader for this time.

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My Cariboo Now thanks the candidates for taking the time to respond to the questionnaire.

General Election Day is on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The polling station is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.