A Kelowna, British Columbia man who ran a city council campaign built around blunt, self-deprecating honesty has won a seat, securing 12,635 votes and finishing fourth out of 37 candidates in a race where the top eight advanced to council.
Brady Rogers skipped the usual campaign slogans and promises in favor of yard signs that admitted he wasn’t thrilled about running at all. One sign read, “I barely want to do this,” with a note in yellow highlighting that he is “under 60.” Another simply said, “Just trying to pay my rent.” In both signs, Rogers wore a “Dadlife” T-shirt.
His campaign site took the same approach to describing his qualifications, stating plainly: “Do I enjoy politics? No. Do I know what I’m doing? No. But am I qualified? Also no.”
Despite the jokes, Rogers said his decision to run came from genuine attachment to the city where he grew up.
“Running for council is the last thing I saw myself doing this year. I don’t like meetings, I don’t like having to be certain places at certain times, and I’m allergic to stuffy offices,” Rogers said. “But unfortunately, I happen to like Kelowna, and think I can help do some good.”
Rogers is a former automation engineer who now runs a manufacturing business in Kelowna with his wife, according to Culture Alberta.
His campaign drew attention locally and beyond for its unusually candid tone at a time when many candidates lean on sweeping promises. Rogers will now join the Kelowna City Council alongside seven other winning candidates.
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