David Scarlatescu, a 28-year-old Vernon entrepreneur, is running for a seat on city council with a promise to bring a younger voice and a different style of engagement to municipal decision-making. The candidate, who owns The Fig restaurant downtown and co-owns Millennium Valley Productions, says his personal roots and plans to raise a family in Vernon inform his goals.
Priorities shaped by local experience
Scarlatescu frames his campaign around what he says a councillor can realistically affect at the municipal level: accessibility, transparent decision-making and proactive communication. He emphasises maximising existing community resources while ensuring families retain access to amenities they need.
While acknowledging the limits of municipal authority on some of the region’s most pressing concerns — notably housing affordability — Scarlatescu argues councillors must focus on levers within their control.
“There are serious concerns that a lot of people living here have that aren't fully mandated by a municipal government,”
He went on to note that broader housing-price trends are driven by federal policy and Bank of Canada decisions, and said councillors should be pragmatic about what local government can change.
Engagement through modern tools
Drawing on his media-production background, Scarlatescu proposes a front-facing social strategy to improve civic engagement. He told Castanet that short explanatory videos and social-media updates could help residents understand council decisions and feel included in the process.
“When a decision is made in council, people often feel like they didn't have a say in it after the fact,” he said, adding that he has no problem producing brief, accessible content with staff to break down major talking points.
- Age and local ties: 28, born and raised in Vernon, newly married and planning to raise a family in the city.
- Business background: Owner of The Fig restaurant; co-owner of Millennium Valley Productions.
- Platform focus: Smart growth, responsible infrastructure management, accessibility, transparency and modern public communication.
Bridging demographics and expectations
Scarlatescu says part of his motivation is to represent a demographic often under-represented at the council table: younger adults and families who may be contemplating leaving Vernon for opportunities elsewhere. He believes having councillors who can relate to younger taxpayers will help the municipality better respond to their needs.
The candidate also stresses a pragmatic approach to municipal governance. Rather than promising sweeping fixes to problems beyond city scope, he wants to focus on making municipal processes clearer and more accessible, and on ensuring the city gets the most value from existing infrastructure.
Castanet has been conducting interviews with every Vernon council candidate in the lead-up to the municipal election. Scarlatescu’s entry into the race adds a voice that combines small-business experience with media-savvy communication ideas intended to make council work more visible and relatable.
| Issue | Scarlatescu's emphasis |
|---|---|
| Housing affordability | Recognises limits of municipal power; cites federal and Bank of Canada influence |
| Community amenities | Protect access and maximise existing resources |
| Public engagement | Use video and social media for transparent, accessible explanations of council decisions |
As Vernon voters prepare for the election, Scarlatescu’s candidacy underscores an ongoing local conversation about how the city represents and retains younger residents, and about what tools council should use to bring residents into the loop on decisions that affect daily life.
