Enter, stage right
If Mayor Larry O’Brien does not run for re-election and with Peter Hume having already declared he will not seek the mayor’s chair, the door is wide open for a right wing candidate to enter the race. Of the currently declared mayoral candidates that are considered front runners, Alex Cullen would ideologically represent the left and Jim Watson would represent the centre right. So, who would qualify to run for the right?
Walter Robinson is the leading name being tossed around to represent the right. The former chief of staff for Larry O’Brien is currently a principal of a local government relations firm and can be heard on the radio commenting on city politics. He could be characterized as the front runner of the non-declared potential late comers to the mayoral race. One of Robinson’s key strengths is he knows the city bureaucracy. He actually has a rapport with many of the city current staff and councillors and from what I know, they kind of like him. The question is can the bilingual Robinson make the shift from commentator to initiator and chief consensus builder?
Brian McGarry is a leading businessman in Ottawa who has real municipal experience. McGarry was once a school board chair and a regional councillor before amalgamation. If O’Brien represented the need for business experience to shake up city hall but came up short due to his lack of political experience, then McGarry would be businessman mayor 2.0. McGarry has long toiled with the idea of running for Mayor but he may be past his best before date.
Terry Kilrea fits the category but should not get any ideas because I mention his name in this post. His chances of winning rank up there with Sarah Palin winning a Democratic party nomination plus he lacks the popularity and the wink.
Lisa McLeod is an active and energetic public servant. MacLeod is the current MPP representing Nepean-Carleton. I wonder if she would ever consider giving up this seat for a municipal seat. The former Jan Harder protégé is on the fast track to a senior cabinet post should the provincial PC’s win the next election in 2011. But heck, Jim Watson left a cabinet post to run for mayor so maybe MacLeod would consider leaving a potential future position to run for mayor. She certainly would garner a lot of support from Nepean, Barrhaven, rural Ottawa and be the leading woman candidate. Just think of the debates with MacLeod v. Watson.
Shane Bennett is a businessman who would be a new entrant to politics but politics would not be new to Bennett. His pedigree is steeped in politics. His Uncle Claude has direct ties to both the old Ottawa as a councillor and new Ottawa as one of the architects of amalgamation. Young Bennett could bring a fresh new approach to city politics and represent the change that taxpayers are looking for.
Graham Fox is a conservative commentator who is frequently on the radio talking about federal politics. Fox, who is fluently bilingual, keeps in touch with all things politic. I am sure he can easily shuffle into debate mode and argue for efficiencies at City Hall but would he like the pay cut for the privilege?
Who do you like?
Conservative candidate?? meh, we don’t need one of those, haha… hasn’t that group done enough damage already?!?!
As Obama says in the US: “Time for Change!”
ooh, would loooove more ‘Dalton McGuinty’ types
Graham Fox is probably too much of a Red Tory to appeal to the rank and file.
Quite frankly the current Right Wing outlook is not urban-friendly. Most of the Right Wing support is from the suburbs and the portions of the city that never had to deal with realities of the modern urban age. Look for example at O’Brien’s record of opinions on things. City-run Social Services would be non-existent if that viewpoint was allowed to have it’s way. Say goodbye to community centres as well, and libraries: “If they want ‘em, they can pay for ‘em. Why should I pay when I don’t use ‘em?” I was recently in Atlanta. I am so very glad we have a culture and system that looks after sidewalks as well as people, amenities as well as infrastructure. We value community, not the “allmighty dollar.”
signed–a Red Tory who now votes away from the “Conservative” side.
Well, Blake, it looks like you may have opened a can of worms here. Speaking of WORMS, I like Mike and Sarah’s comments. Wasn’t it that WORM “Sir Spend a Lot,” Dandelion Dalton that tossed 19 billion of our tax dollars in the can to his friends. Wasn’t it Dalton Ding Bat that promised no tax raise, yet is the highest tax raiser of Premiere Ontario has. Oh those of short memory with money to throw away, while the homeles sleep on our streets and children go hungry.
What a sad sack group. Walter has proven he is unelectabale. And he has no respect form bureaucracy because he worked for larry !
Lisa MacLeod as Mayor ? give me a break.She is a big loudmouth who worked as a secretary to harder, and would get zero i mean zero votes in urban ottawa
Graham Fox is bright, but he was at Watson’s kickoff as was McGarry !
Another Bennett on the public tit ! god help us all
I’m with Terry the brightest light of the right wing lol
I cannot believe there is one person in this city of Ottawa would believe Jim Watson is a little right of centre. Jim is as far Left as any liberal can be. I am sure he is a card carrying Liberal as he served as a minister of the liberal provincial gov’t of Ontario for 6 yrs. That to me is a Liberal. Thank you
If Terry Kilrea is the brightest light for a candidate for mayor we are all in serious trouble. As for him being right of centre no way he gave all that up in 2006 stepping down . Ask Judge Cunningham how bright he thinks Terry Kilrea is.
Robin, you said it!
Jim Watson right of center?? In whose universe?
Jim was never right & never will be no matter what media may want us to believe . Jim is as far left as you can go only in the media universe Barb. maybe he wishes he was right after McFluffy sex blunder
Leave your response!
Tags
Tim Tierney Jim Watson Ottawa Citizen City Hall OC Transpo Randall Denley Alex Cullen Larry O'Brien Rob Snow CFRA Tim Hudak Peter Hume Mathieu Fleury Ottawa HST Stephen Harper Dalton McGuinty Michael Ignatieff Ottawa Sun Maria McRaeGuest Bloggers
Recent Comments
Most Commented
Ottawa Web Design and Development By Mediavanta