SHERRING: Will the mic incident set the stage for a solid mayoral race? Hopefully

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Coun. Diane Deans has never hidden her ambition to be mayor of the nation’s capital. But time never seems to be on your side.

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And in recent years, Mayor Jim Watson got in his way.

However, at some point, Deans knows he has to take the plunge. Let’s hope she doesn’t run scared again.

I’m not sure how the relationship between Deans and Watson got so toxic, but the hatred between them runs deep and has lasted for many years. (Rest assured, I don’t use the word hate lightly.)

The couple served together in the old Ottawa City Hall prior to the merger and it was an uneasy relationship even then.

But the bad blood shot to a new level last week, when Watson turned off Dean’s mic on council as he spoke.

Impressive. Shocking

And, for a city hall fan like me, fascinating!

When asked to speak about the controversy, Deans declined. (That’s not like her. She rarely misses an opportunity to express herself with the media. But it may be a sign of things to come.)

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Instead, his office sent an email:

“The City Council had one of the most important motions of this legislature on the table yesterday regarding a request for an independent judicial investigation into the failure of our LRT system, a project that cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

“Unfortunately, the rules of procedure were blatantly manipulated by Mayor Watson to ensure that members did not have the opportunity to vote in a judicial investigation.

“I am incredibly disappointed in the council and in particular our mayor. A judicial review is needed for liability reasons: members of the public have paid for this system and deserve answers to the current problems with the Confederation Line. “

No one seemed more surprised by the microphone incident than Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Carol Anne Meehan.

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“It was unbelievable. I just couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Little wonder.

Watson likes to be in control, and he clearly lost that control at the council last week. And then again, in a very unusual way, his need to be in control washed over him and silenced Deans.

Pretty ugly stuff.

Watson later wrote to the deans “to apologize for cutting off his microphone” amid a debate over what method the council should use to investigate the troubled LRT program.

“It was a wrong decision on my part and I take full responsibility,” Watson wrote in a tweet.

Do you think

A vote of 11-11 on the mayor’s ruling meant that his decision to cut it off was upheld under the rules of procedure. Pathetic. How could a city councilor support Watson to take away another councilor’s right to speak?

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It could be them next time.

Appalling.

Along with Meehan, at least a couple of other councilors spoke. Capital Coun. Shawn Menard called the mayor’s actions a joke.

Somerset County. Catherine McKenney was equally disturbed by the mayor’s actions.

“Yes, really, cutting women. Love it. That’s good, ”he said.

In a tweet, Deans wrote: “Thank you @JimWatsonOttawa for the apology, however you must take action to correct the damage you have caused. This would mean allowing @cmckenney’s motion to be debated and voted on at the next council meeting. We need to restore public trust. “

The municipal elections are only one year away. It could be a very long 12 months in town hall. Almost everyone will use council and committees to prove themselves. And, if Deans sticks to her ambition to finally run for mayor, this may not be the end of the animosity between her and Watson.