Family matters in mayoral campaigns

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This article was published 18/09/2022 (732 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Gordon Alder may be 90 years old and ineligible to vote for mayoral hopeful Scott Gillingham, but he has voluntarily assembled dozens of the candidate’s election signs.

The Headingley resident can’t vote in Winnipeg, but that hasn’t dulled his enthusiasm for Gillingham’s run at the city’s top job.

He figures he’d enjoy being the mayor’s grandfather.

“I can’t vote for him, but I can help him with his signs,” Alder said Monday. “I don’t have to go to his (campaign) office. I can just put them together on the back of my half-ton (truck).”

This is the third time Alder has helped his grandson, a two-term St. James city councillor, in an election campaign.

He is just one of countless people volunteering their time and skill in this year’s municipal campaign, and all have their reasons.

Dalip Shekhawat has climbed Mount Everest and, in the next few months, plans to ski to the South Pole and run a marathon at the North Pole, but his immediate challenge is helping Rick Shone win the mayoralty.

“This is nothing compared to what I’ve done before,” Shekhawat said. “This is fun.”

He said running from property to property distributing Shone’s campaign literature is helping to keep him in shape for the 16-day, 120-kilometre South Pole ski route he’s taking on in December. Then, in April, he’s flying to the North Pole where he and others will be running a 42-kilometre marathon.

Shone has nothing but praise for Shekhawat and his other volunteers.

“He has been awesome, helping me on the campaign,” the local business owner said. “First of all, in bringing me in front of the Indian community, inviting me to his running groups and installing many lawn signs within his community.

“It is such a wide group of people on our team, from all political leanings, no political leanings, all socio-economic backgrounds and all ethnicities.”

Over at the Jenny Motkaluk campaign, running for mayor is definitely a family affair.

Motkaluk, who finished second to outgoing Mayor Brian Bowman in the 2018 civic election, has all seven of her siblings, along with other family members, on her volunteer staff.

“My sister Twyla is my campaign manager,” she said. “Who would you trust other than your big sister? I’m so grateful because it is a big commitment. It is a six-month-long campaign.”

And, noting that Gillingham has his 90-year-old grandfather working for him, Motkaluk said, “I’d like to raise that; my 86-year-old mother-in-law is volunteering, as well as my 79-year-old dad.”

While Rana Bokhari’s first decision was deciding to seek the mayor’s chair, her second decision was about the makeup of the volunteers on her campaign leadership team; they are all women.

And not only are they women, but most are people of colour or part of the LGBTTQ+ community.

“There is not a single male on this team,” Bokhari said. “It was non-negotiable. I wanted a safe space for myself. That’s why I decided all women.

“We collaborate differently. It was a conscious decision to do this and it has been so inspiring. I’ve never had such a good political experience before and this has been a beautiful experience.”

As for Gillingham’s grandfather, there is more sign-making in his immediate future.

“He is very active, so he is champing at the bit to do more,” Gillingham said. “He is a dedicated volunteer and volunteers are the heart of campaigns.

“And my family is very supportive and very involved.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca