Mayoral Candidate Nelly Dever: My First Impressions

When Nelly Dever agreed to meet with me, I wasn't looking for polished campaign talking points. I wanted to answer a much simpler question: could I picture this person serving as Mayor of Kamloops?

There will be plenty of time during the campaign to examine platforms, promises, and policy proposals. What interested me was the person behind the campaign. If I was eventually going to entrust someone with my vote, I wanted to know whether they possessed the character, temperament, and judgment I expect from the city's highest elected official.

I reached out to Dever and asked if she would be willing to meet. She promptly accepted my invitation.

My First Meeting with Nelly Dever

On a warm afternoon, we spent about an hour chatting over coffee in the sunshine. We talked about Kamloops, municipal politics, and the challenges facing our community. Rather than conducting an interrogation or trying to catch her in a contradiction, I simply wanted an honest conversation.

The discussion put me at ease almost immediately. Dever was easy to talk to, intelligent, articulate, eloquent, and candid in explaining her views. Just as importantly, she listened every bit as well as she spoke.

For me, that's an important quality in any elected official. Residents don't simply want someone who can deliver speeches. They also want someone willing to hear concerns that differ from their own. Listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills, particularly in municipal government where council decisions affect residents so directly.

Without suggesting I'm naïve enough to believe anyone can be fully assessed after a single conversation, I came away believing Dever was honest and forthright. I never had the sense that she was simply telling me what she thought I wanted to hear. People earn trust over time, but authenticity matters, especially in municipal politics where voters are effectively deciding who will oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in public spending. Casting a ballot is, in many ways, like giving someone access to your wallet. I want to believe that person takes that responsibility seriously.

A Candidate Who Listens

A few days later, I stopped by the Cooper Centre for a meet-and-greet hosted by the Pivot Kamloops team. Once again, Dever was approachable and gracious with her time. She readily answered a few of my questions and responded thoughtfully to questions from others. She never appeared rushed or dismissive.

That second encounter reinforced the positive first impression I had formed during our earlier conversation.

Of course, personality alone doesn't make someone a good mayor. Character matters, but so do ideas. I also wanted to better understand one of the more significant policy proposals in her platform.

Asking About Public-Private Partnerships

One issue I particularly wanted to understand was Dever's support for public-private partnerships, or what she calls her "Co-Build" initiative. Public-private partnerships are often promoted as innovative ways to build major infrastructure. They also raise legitimate questions about long-term costs, accountability, and the appropriate role of private enterprise in public projects.

After coming across one of her Facebook posts, I decided to ask those questions publicly. I wrote:

"Hi Nelly Dever for Mayor - Pivot Kamloops, I'm sure you'll get challenged on P3's by the status quo. Let me be the first to ask for more of your thinking on this topic.

You have expressed support for public-private partnerships. What criteria would you use to determine when a P3 is appropriate? Can you identify any City services or infrastructure that should never be delivered through a public-private partnership, and why? Thanks Kamloops Critic."

She replied later that same day:

"Richard Wilbur thank you for the excellent question.

The 'Co-Build' Initiative is about leveraging private sector innovation and capital to build large-scale infrastructure on budget, without putting the entire financial burden on Kamloops taxpayers.

My criteria for utilizing a P3 model would strictly focus on the land acquisition and construction phase of major capital projects such as new recreational facilities, or complex infrastructure builds.

My platform outlines four distinct Co-Build initiatives alongside an independent financial oversight directive.

To be clear: core municipal services, public safety, emergency services, and our essential daily water and waste utilities belong in public hands. They should never be delivered through a P3 model. Our vital public workforce is the backbone of Kamloops, and this blueprint is designed to protect their jobs while modernizing how we build our city."

I appreciated both the substance of her response and the fact that she replied the same day. Rather than offering a blanket endorsement of public-private partnerships, she drew clear boundaries around where she believes they should—and should not—be used. Whether readers agree with her position is another matter, but it gives voters something concrete to evaluate instead of relying on campaign slogans.

Her answer also raises important questions that deserve further discussion. What does "private sector capital" actually mean in practice? Would taxpayers ultimately save money over the life of a project, or would they simply spread the cost over a longer period? I expect to continue exploring those questions with Dever as the campaign progresses.

A Campaign Worth Watching

It's too early for me to decide who ultimately deserves my vote. Before Dever entered the race, I likely would have voted for Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson. I may still. It all depends on what I believe is best for the citizens of Kamloops.

For now, however, I find myself cautiously optimistic. For voters looking for another option in the mayoral race, Dever appears, at least at this early stage, to be a candidate worth watching closely. My first impression is that she possesses the intelligence, temperament, communication skills, and authenticity that many residents would like to see in the Mayor's office. Whether those first impressions stand the test of a full election campaign remains to be seen.

I intend to follow Dever and her campaign throughout the months ahead and report honestly on what I find—the positives, the negatives, and everything in between.

Have you met Nelly Dever? If so, what was your impression? Is she someone you could see yourself voting for this October? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments.

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Disclosure: Kamloops Critic requested the initial meeting with Nelly Dever. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and took place over coffee after she accepted my invitation. No compensation, gifts, discounts, or other consideration were offered or accepted by either party.

This article reflects my personal first impressions following two encounters with Nelly Dever and her subsequent public response to a question I posed on Facebook. It should not be interpreted as an endorsement of her candidacy. Kamloops Critic will continue evaluating every candidate based on their public statements, policy positions, campaign conduct, and factual record throughout the election. If future evidence changes my views, I'll report that just as openly.