The husband of a woman who intends to run for a seat on the local school board has touted his candidacy at an anti-mask rally.

Jeff Frank addressed a crowd gathered in Stuart Park last Saturday and urged people to vote for his wife Chelsea in the June 26 by-election.

“I have four kids, from elementary to middle school, and when they told me my kids had to be masked all day every day, that was the last day I wore a mask,” Frank told the crowd.

“I’m done. I won’t do it again,” Frank said. “My wife, Chelsea Frank, she’s running as a school trustee, you might have seen her signs last time. of the upcoming by-election. “

A guest speaker at the rally was Chris Saccoccia, also known as Chris Sky, who addressed numerous protests against masks and other public health measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saccoccia was arrested in Thunder Bay earlier this week, allegedly for speaking at an anti-mask rally.

On a Facebook page in which she declares her intention to run for the school board by-elections, Chelsea Frank wrote on Thursday: “To be clear, my personal opinions, my beliefs and my values ​​have absolutely nothing to do with the candidacy for the post of SD23 administrator.[…]My stance on masks, vaccinations, or your child’s hair color shouldn’t stop me from doing the BEST for kids. “

While those interested in running for the vacant school board position can pick up nomination materials now at Kelowna City Hall, as four people did, they cannot be fired for the certification before May 11.

The June 26 school board by-election was called to fill the vacant position created by the death of Rolli Cacchioni. Chelsea Frank ran unsuccessfully for the board of directors in the 2018 election, finishing seventh out of 10 contenders in Kelowna’s four-seat race.