A man who told voters he had no idea what he was doing has officially landed himself a job in politics.
Brady Rogers, 33, won a seat on Kelowna city council in British Columbia, Canada after an unconventional campaign packed with self-deprecating jokes and brutally honest slogans.
Preliminary election results show Rogers received 12,635 votes, finishing fourth among 37 candidates competing for eight council positions.
His campaign website offered perhaps the clearest summary of his qualifications, stating: “Do I enjoy politics? No. Do I know what I’m doing? No. But am I qualified? Also no.”
His roadside signs were equally unconventional.
One appeared to advertise “Brady Rogers for Mayor” before adding: “Just kidding. City Council.”
Another simply read: “Just trying to pay my rent.”
Other signs included “I barely want to do this” and “Don’t worry, I’ll fix everything,” followed by the disclaimer: “terms and conditions apply.”
The campaign quickly went viral online, attracting more than 100,000 views and even attention from American influencer Mandi Jung.
Rogers insisted his claims of being unqualified were tongue-in-cheek.
He told Global News: “I’m being a little bit tongue-in-cheek when I say I’m unqualified. I’ve never been a politician, but I certainly have experience that I think is very relevant and helpful.”
The businessman previously worked as a robotic automation engineer for four years before launching The Rogerie, a company that transforms plastic waste into new products, with his wife.
Despite his dislike of traditional politics, Rogers said he felt compelled to get involved because of problems facing Kelowna, including housing affordability, homelessness and difficulties affecting small businesses.
He told Castanet: “I’m really good at solving problems, and I also care about problems. And sometimes that means I feel obligated to help with them when they arise.”
Following his victory, Rogers posted a late-night video addressing supporters and stressed that, beneath the jokes, he takes his new responsibilities seriously.
The results remain preliminary and are expected to be formally declared by October 21.