More challengers step forward for mayor’s chair

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This article was published 01/05/2022 (872 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Banking on his council experience to help him stand out in a potentially crowded race, Coun. Scott Gillingham has registered to run for mayor this fall.

“I’ve been on the frontlines at city hall here for the last two years through COVID. I’ve had the privilege and opportunity to be the finance chair for five-and-a-half years, so I’ve got experience in managing the city’s finances … As we come out of COVID and now as we look forward, we need to unite, we need to come together and I believe I’m the kind of person that could work with stakeholders, council colleagues, other levels of government,” said Gillingham, who was first elected as a city councillor in 2014.

The St. James councillor signed up to join the race late Monday afternoon, a day after registration opened, becoming the fifth person to do so. Mayor Brian Bowman announced two years ago that he will not run for re-election.

While Gillingham declined to share any details of his election platform just yet, he noted Winnipeggers are facing many challenges.

“We’ve come out of two really hard years of COVID, we’ve come out of one of the hardest winters on record. We see challenges with homelessness, addiction, some concerns about crime. Everybody driving around Winnipeg right now knows the condition of the roads with the potholes, so there is a lot of work that we need to continue to do in our city to improve the services that we’re providing,” he said.

On Monday morning, business owner Rick Shone also registered his own mayoral bid.

Shone, who owns Wilderness Supply stores in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, also created Swamp Donkey Adventure Racing with a friend. He said he’s passionate about promoting the city.

“I’m not a politician … (but) being a civic leader is where my passion lies … I’d like to make (Winnipeg) a place where everybody can be proud to live and people can be proud to move to,” said Shone.

Shone said a few skills he’s acquired while participating in multi-sport adventure races, which can each last several hours or even days, could also assist him in politics.

“It probably suits the job well because it involves a lot of endurance, grit and hard work. You’re only as successful as your team is, too,” he said.

On Sunday, business development consultant Jenny Motkaluk, security business owner Don Woodstock and Chris Clacio registered to enter the race.

Clacio, who has worked at a grocery store during the pandemic, said he brings unique life experiences to the race.

“A lot of candidates you see running for public office … are lawyers, reporters. It just feels like from the essential service jobs, you don’t see a lot of people with that background running for public office,” he said.

Clacio also registered to run for mayor in 2018 but did not complete the nomination process.

Coun. John Orlikow and social enterprise leader Shaun Loney have declared their intentions to run for mayor but have yet to register.

Coun. Kevin Klein has said he’ll compete in the election, but has not yet confirmed if he will run for mayor or to be re-elected as a councillor.

Late Monday, former member of Parliament Robert-Falcon Ouellette, who held Winnipeg Centre for the Liberals from 2015-19, announced he will register as a candidate for mayor. 

“Strong leadership is needed at city hall. We will bring together citizens, community groups, businesses and all levels of government to create a better city for everyone,” he said via his Twitter account. 

There’s also speculation Manitoba Families Minister Rochelle Squires and former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray could also compete for the top council job, though neither have registered to do so yet.

Winnipeggers will vote for their next mayor and council on Oct. 26.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga