The race for the next mayor of Winnipeg has officially begun, with three candidates starting their campaigns.
Sunday morning was the first opportunity for candidates to register at the city official’s office, with Jenny Motkaluk being the first to show up.
“I think what Winnipegger wants is an opportunity to tell me or someone like me what they think we can do to improve the city for the things we can do to boost growth and investment,” he said. Motkaluk.
Motkaluk, a business consultant, is running in the last municipal elections in 2018, garnering 36 percent of the vote and finishing second to incumbent Mayor Brian Bowman.
“Last time we spent a lot of time talking about politics,” she said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done, but I think we’ve focused too much on that, and we haven’t focused enough on giving Winnipegars a chance to know who I am.”
Unlike in 2018, Motkaluk and other candidates will have a wide field, as incumbent Mayor Brian Bowman is not seeking re-election.
“I think we need to build on and improve some of the positive work that has happened at City Hall over the last eight years, and I’m excited to hear from both candidates for mayor and council members how they continue to build Winnipeg. for the future and to create a city where we can all be proud to call home, “Bowman told a news conference on Thursday when asked about the election.
With Bowman not running, Royce Coop, a professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, expects a long vote on October 26.
According to Coop, open competitions tend to produce more candidates, which makes name recognition very important.
“Voters don’t always have enough to work with, and what makes the difference is name recognition. So, if you’re a incumbent, that’s a big advantage, but also if you have some name recognition, if … you’re a councilor, a provincial politician, even if you’re a local celebrity, “Coop said.
Two other Winnipegars also made their name in Sunday’s race – Don Woodstock and Chris Clasio.
Woodstock, a businessman in the security industry, is running for mayor in the previous election.
This time, he is running a “clean-up” campaign targeting current council members, claiming they have committed construction fraud.
“Any city councilor who has supported or participated in corruption [executive policy committee] “The model we have today must not be re-elected,” Woodstock said.
Chris Clasio, who ran in the last election but did not make it to the polls, is also trying to run for mayor.
“I just want to see the city more practical and more optimistic, because it seems that all the candidates on social media just seemed very uninspiring to many citizens,” he said.
Clasio said he would focus on the city’s public engagement and growing technology sector.
With the registration deadline still months in September, the list of hopes for mayor is sure to grow.
City councilors John Orlikov and Scott Gillingham, along with businessman Sean Loney, also announced their intention to run, but did not register on Sunday.
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