A former stuntman running for Squamish council has promised to set himself on fire if residents buck the city’s trend of dismal voter turnout.
Peter Kent, who was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double for 15 years, told CTV News he wants to terminate voter apathy in the scenic Howe Sound community he’s called home for almost a decade.
Low turnout is a problem municipally, provincially and federally, and Squamish is no exception. Just 39 per cent of eligible voters turned out in 2011.
“I thought, what can I do personally to get them motivated and fired up to vote?” Kent said. “I said, well, I’m a stuntman. I could set myself on fire.”
And that’s what he’s vowed to do, if at least 45 per cent of voters get off their keisters and cast ballots on Nov. 15.
If that single condition is met, Kent has promised to turn himself into a human fireball, even if he doesn’t win a seat.
“I’m not doing this to attract votes for myself. If that’s the way that happens, then wonderful and thank you,” he said.
“I made a promise, I’ll keep it.”
Pollster Mario Canseco from Insights West said the turnout in B.C.’s municipal elections is among the lowest in Canada.
He believes the problem of voter apathy often starts at home.
“If you’re not paying attention to these issues now, you’re not talking about it with your family, you’re less likely to walk out on a rainy Saturday morning and cast a ballot,” Canseco said.
Kent said he'll wear special burn clothes and use a fire gel to ensure his stunt is as safe as possible.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson
