Economist Anthony Okechukwu plunges into race for Council chair, offering regional experience

UNBC School of Economics graduate, turned Yekooche First Nation CAO, then Community Economic Officer for McLeod Lake Indian Band when the distance from his family became too great, Anthony “Tony” Okechukwu first moved to Prince George in 2017 and is now getting into local politics as he builds a future for his young family. 

As a developmental economist, one way of generating revenue for the city Okechukwu envisions is to encourage entrepreneurship, on the principle that expanding the amount of businesses expands the city’s tax base. To encourage that, Okechukwu would like to streamline the city’s permitting processes and reduce the business taxes which are preventing new enterprises from emerging. In order to prepare for an economic boom, one of the areas of business he feels the city needs to specifically encourage is construction. The resulting creation of local jobs from new local companies, leading to increased spending and economic stimulation, would increase the services and amenities citizens of the city demand.

Between this and increased transparency resulting in more accountable & efficient city spending, Okechukwu feels a lot of our municipal problems could be addressed. These problems include affordable housing, brain drain, accessible healthcare, safer streets and more, though not without addressing reconciliation within the process.

Okechukwu spoke with CFURadio, a venue he’s familiar with as a former volunteer and board member, about his platform, and asks others to take this election seriously as an opportunity to enable positive change. Anthony Okechukwu makes his move towards Prince George City Council during our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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Anthony Okechukwu Interview

Rolling the dice to leap from Councillor to Mayor, Frizzell presents perspective on affordability, safety, and teamwork

Garth Frizzell moved to Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh in 1996, furthered his education, started a technology company, a family and spent eighteen of those years on City Council. After winding down a career in education at the College of New Caledonia, and continuing it at the University of Northern British Columbia, he’s not pursuing a seat on Council and instead risking that inertia to shoot for the Mayor’s office.

With nearly two decades in municipal politics, Frizzell covered a lot of ground with CFURadio, touching on the thick and thin moments following his first successful 2008 election. Dialling in, mostly on issues affecting young demographics, for 15 minutes, he acknowledged huge challenges and opportunities facing Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh. Frizzell answered questions that were brought about by examining his platform, and prioritized through our audience survey.

Offering his name amongst the nine Mayoral candidates, he hopes to stand out with his experience building teams, working with multiple levels of government and thorough working knowledge of our city’s municipal structures. Citizens cast their ballots for our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out more of our stories on FrequencyNews.ca

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Garth Frizzell Interview

Mental health support worker Trenten Laarz jockeys for Prince George City Council seat

A lifetime resident of Northern BC, Trenten Laarz has been working as a mental health and addiction support worker for long enough to see where local government can work with partners and levels of government to fill some gaps. After placing second in Dawson Creek’s 2022 Mayoral race, Laarz decided to return to where he lived in his teens to work, and now place a bid for Prince George’s City Council. 

Laarz spoke with CFURadio about improving accessibility and transit, mentioning bike lanes to enable other modes of transport. Also a focal point in his platform, he brought up the critical nature of the relationship required with Lheidli T’enneh and other regional First Nations in order to advance the city’s objectives. All this while answering questions that were brought about upon examining her platform, and prioritized through our audience survey.

He hopes others will acknowledge the value of his northern experience and health focused career as they select Prince George City Council members during our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out more of our stories on FrequencyNews.ca

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Trenten Laarz Interview

Local candidate, John Zukowski reckons we can have a better Prince George City Council

Operating a downtown business for about twenty years in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh, John Zukowski has seen change over time and doesn’t like how the last eight years have gone. He also brings the entrepreneurial perspective of operating a security business for over forty years, experiencing challenges as an independent owner operator. To address challenges experienced by him and others, he’s putting his name on the ballot for a City Council position.

Zukowski spoke with CFURadio about the need for accountability, taking advantage of our transportation hub infrastructure, focusing on core civic responsibilities without assuming roles of other levels of government, and more while answering questions that were brought about upon examining his platform, and prioritized through our audience survey.

He hopes others will identify his focus on accountability and push that perspective into the Prince George City Council during our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out more of our stories on FrequencyNews.ca

Podcast subscription URL for your podcast app (RSS):

https://anchor.fm/s/10166ba64/podcast/rss

John Zukowski Interview

Incumbent Councillor Ramsay, hopes to carry forward experience with levels of government and a thirst for knowledge into another term

20+ year resident of Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh, and graduate of UNBC, Cori Ramsay wishes to continue to develop intergovernmental relationships, bring her perspectives on poverty and strengthen community resilience in a number of ways as a member of Prince George City Council.

Working as the Marketing & Strategy Manager for Integris Credit Union she’s been able to marry an interest in community and finances while representing residents on council and through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) over her past two terms.

Ramsay kept to our 15 minute time limit while answering questions that were brought about upon examining her platform, and prioritized through our audience survey. She hopes others will wish to retain her practicable perspectives and developed experience to the Prince George City Council during our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out more of our stories on FrequencyNews.ca

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Cori Ramsay Interview

Local candidate, Tucker Krause wants to bring specific actionable items to Prince George City Council

Second year UNBC economics student Tucker Krause hopes to apply the concepts he’s actively learning to the City of Prince George upon a successful election into a city council position. 

Krause used a tight break between classes to chat with CFURadio, to summarize his platform of specific actionable items, and answer questions prioritized through our audience survey.

He hopes others will recognize the value of his fiscal concepts, commitment to transparency and want to add a youthful perspective to the Prince George City Council during our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out more of our stories on FrequencyNews.ca

Podcast subscription URL for your podcast app (RSS):

https://anchor.fm/s/10166ba64/podcast/rss

Tucker Krause Interview

Local candidate, Shawn Bortolon wishes to bring experience and perspective to Prince George City Council

Shawn Bortolon is running for a City Council position, hoping to share her experience founded in years of community based work, volunteerism, education, and even entrepreneurship. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

Shawn Borloton Interview

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Former resident of the Village of South Fort George, Shawn Bortolon has developed an impressive resume with the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, The Northern Women’s Centre, Northern Interior Community Gaming Association (NICA),  Multicultural Heritage Society of Prince George, even running the Riverbend restaurant with her family and more before spending the last ten years and counting with School District 57 as a Indigenous Education Worker.

Bortolon spoke with CFURadio and kept to our 15 minute time limit while answering questions that were brought about upon examining her platform, and prioritized through our audience survey. She hopes others will recognize her community focused career and want to add that perspective to the Prince George City Council during our Municipal Elections on October 17th, 2026.

CFURadio is striving to conduct, and share, interviews with every City Council & Mayoral candidate running in the City of Prince George’s 2026 Municipal Election.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out more of our stories on FrequencyNews.ca

Podcast subscription URL for your podcast app (RSS):

https://anchor.fm/s/10166ba64/podcast/rss