He lovingly caresses the hard black body, then moves in to kiss it.

He’s encouraged to “punch it in the head.”

He refuses.

Two reasons why, he said. One, his daughter made him the pine beetle replica when she was in Grade 10 and two, the insect was a sign to diversify.

“So you’re a glass is half full kind of guy,” reporter comments.

“Damn straight I am,” Mayor Nate Bello said, gently placing the paper mâché critter on a crowded end table in his office.

His “rented office,” he quickly reminds his guests.

And come Nov. 15 Bello will either be settling into his digs for another three years or packing his bags and handing the keys over to his competition, Mary Sjostrom.

But for now it’s his and he’s happy to show it off.

“This is a fun thing?” he asks cautiously.

Reporter and videographer nod. A behind-the-scenes look at his office, his interests, his passion for the multi-centre, his involvement and commitment to diversification and his toy collection.

Bello smiles – he’s in.

He quickly takes them on a whirlwind tour of his space showing off gifts and momentos (one he re-gifted to the Observer, the plush black bear named Fraser now graces the top of a filing cabinet).

He moves towards a large poster decorating the wall, children’s handwriting and well wishes surround a picture of a slim man in a blue suit.

The mustache is a dead give-away, Bello touches his absently and says he loves having students visit City Hall and check out chambers. After all he’s been a teacher for 31 years.

“It’s interesting trying to explain civic government to eight and nine-year-olds,” he said.

Reporter comments that most adults don’t even get it.

He laughs. Reporter hopes he didn’t think she meant him.

Moving on.

Bello invites the pair to sign the guest book (they do). Encourages reporter to play with his Rocky Mountaineer Vacations train replica (she does). He even directs media “now you go Choo Choo.”

Thanks, Nate.

The man is even so gracious as to provide putting tips – but it should be mentioned reporter got the ball closer to the target than teacher did.

The trio head outdoors where they plan to meet at the arena. Bello arrives with two hockey sticks in hand.

You’re going down Nate.

Bello’s supported the proposed multi-centre since day one. Stating someone built the current rink where his children learned to skate, so perhaps he could have a hand in the creation of a new building for future generations.

He wraps up his speech and taps his blade on the cement.

Game on.

As it turns out Nate is far more agile than he looks, schooling this reporter rather quickly and embarrassingly.

In her defence – she was wearing heels.

Our final destination is the Community Observation Tower on Two Mile Flat. Home to one of the most concentrated wood-related industrial areas in North America.

Bello speaks to the need to diversify and his involvement and optimism towards the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition’s final report.

That’s Nate, calling on senior government to reinvest in our region, while calling himself “Barrack O’Bello.”

For video footage of the Observer’s visit with Nate, check out www.quesnelobserver.com.

Who will take the title of Mayor Of Quesnel?

Municipal elections are Nov. 15, with polls closing at 8 p.m. Log online to check out up-to the-minute numbers counts, predictions, video and quotes as Sjostrom and Bello go head-to-head for leader of Quesnel.