Profile of the eight candidates who could run for mayor of Winnipeg

The City Clerk’s office will open on Sunday to allow aspirants to succeed Brian Bowman to sign their registration documents as soon as possible. The current mayor had signaled midway through his second term that he would not seek a third.

Early candidate registration is critical to allow them to begin raising and spending funds for their campaign without violating city election rules.

On the other hand, registration does not oblige candidates to appear on the ballot on polling day, scheduled for October 26.

Four candidates have already declared their intention to run for mayor and four other well-known politicians are considering a campaign or are the subject of opinion polls to gauge voter interest.

Shaun Loney

Shaun Loney, who describes himself as a social entrepreneur, was the first person to declare his candidacy for mayor after Mr Bowman announced he would not seek another term.

Mr Loney founded the non-profit organization Building Urban Industries for Local Development and co-founded Aki Energy. He presents himself as a mayor who would have a social conscience and a sense of business.

Shaun Loney is also the first candidate to make a concrete political commitment.

In February, he promised to reduce the workload of the Winnipeg Police Service by contracting out responsibility for meeting the social service needs of people who regularly call 911.

John Orlikow

First elected to City Council in a 2009 by-election, Councilor River Heights-Fort Garry has declared his intention to run for mayor in February.

Mr. Orlikow says he is looking forward to campaigning for an election with so many opponents.

I think it will be fun, he said. I would be a little nervous if no one showed up. I hope everyone will jump in: the merrier.

Liberal by political affiliation and mediator by profession, he says his campaign would focus on jobs, the environment and the city’s infrastructure deficit.

In the past, John Orlikow was part of the unofficial opposition to former mayor Sam Katz, and became an ally of Mr. Bowman.

Scott Gillingham

A St. James town councilor since 2014, Mr Gillingham had announced in February that he would likely run for mayor, which he confirmed on Thursday.

The city needs a mayor who has experience to lead the economic recovery we must aim for in the coming months as we emerge from the pandemic.says the former pastor, who spent most of his time at City Hall as chairman of the council’s finance committee.

Like Mr. Orlikow, he was an ally of the outgoing mayor. Scott Gillingham and Brian Bowman both identify as Progressive Conservatives, and the candidate had considered running for the party leadership last summer.

Mr Gillingham describes himself as a moderate who is trying to gain broad support.

The City of Winnipeg needs a mayor who can unite people, bring them together.

Jenny Motkaluk

Ms. Motkaluk, a business consultant, finished second in Winnipeg’s previous mayoral race in 2018. She was the only candidate to pose a real threat to Brian Bowman’s candidacy, receiving more than 76,000 votes and garnering nearly 36% of the popular vote.

She officially declared her candidacy on Thursday, but reserved her comments for this weekend.

I believe Winnipeg is looking for new and positive leadershipshe said in February.

Jenny Motkaluk, who identifies as a conservative, campaigned in 2018 against the incumbent mayor’s priorities, such as growth fees, more support for rapid transit and reopening the Portage and Main intersection to pedestrians.

Kevin Klein

Former editor of Winnipeg SunMr. Klein is an advisor to Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood since 2018.

He has been ruminating on a mayoral race for months, but has not declared his candidacy.

I care deeply about Winnipeg and want to find solutionshe said Thursday, pledging only to serve on the board this fall one way or another.

Unlike Messrs. Orlikow and Gillingham, Kevin Klein spent most of his first term on city council clashing with Mr Bowman. The incumbent mayor returned the favor by attacking Mr Klein’s possible candidacy for mayor in recent weeks.

On Thursday, for example, the incumbent mayor accused the would-be candidate of hypocrisy, noting that he is advocating for more road repairs after voting against budgets that included more money for those same repairs.

There are council members who have consistently opposed these investments, and one of them may eventually run for mayor.said the outgoing mayor.

Rochelle Squires

Minister of Families in Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government, Ms. Squires has been the subject of polls to determine popular support for a potential mayoral candidacy.

She has been the PC MP for Riel since 2016 and briefly considered running for the leadership of the party last summer.

She did not want to confirm or deny her interest in the mayor of Winnipeg.

I have important legislation before the House and other initiatives relating to my ministry. This is my priority until the House raises the 1^er June.

Glen Murray

One of the best-known names in Winnipeg politics, Murray served as a Fort Rouge alderman for nine years and mayor of Winnipeg for six years before stepping down to try to become a Member of Parliament.

He eventually served as an Ontario Liberal MP for seven years and then tried to become leader of the federal Green Party.

Like Ms. Squires, Glen Murray was the subject of polls to determine whether Winnipeg voters wanted him back.

When he returned to Winnipeg in 2018, he had ruled out the idea of ​​returning to politics.

I really, really, really like the idea of ​​going out to the pub with my friends for a beer at the end of the day, going to a Jets game and not having to go out every night of the week to obligations of mayor or politicianhe explained at the time.

Murray did not respond to requests for comment.

Robert Falcon Ouellette

Like Ms. Motkaluk, Mr. Ouellette is a former Winnipeg mayoral candidate who lost to Brian Bowman. He came third in the 2014 mayoral race, which turned out to be a surprisingly strong showing for the then-unknown politician.

He served one term as the Liberal MP for Winnipeg Center before being ousted by Leah Gazan of NDPNew Democratic Party.

Like Mr. Murray and Ms. Squires, Robert-Falcon Ouellette has been the subject of polls. He also posted his 2014 Winnipeg campaign logo on his Facebook page.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette did not respond to requests for comment.

With information from Bartley Kives