14°c Light rain
13°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
EPC 'dysfunctional, broken and divided,' says exiting Coun. Swandel
Coun. Justin Swandel (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Related Items
-
Articles
St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel has quit city council's executive policy committee because he feels Mayor Sam Katz’s inner circle has become "dysfunctional, broken and divided."
On Thursday morning, Mayor Sam Katz announced a shuffle of city council’s most powerful committee. The most dramatic move is the departure of Swandel, who has served on EPC since 2006 but now says he cannot work with the other members.
Minutes after the announcement, Swandel told reporters EPC weakened following the 2011 departure of former St. Vital councillor Gord Steeves, who quit to take a run at provincial politics. Steeves’ replacement was Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt.
Swandel said he was not comfortable working with remaining EPC members, who lacked experience, in his view. While he declined to discuss specifics, Swandel said he does not agree with what some EPC members have done and the situation has been "escalating."
Swandel called his decision to quit a "personal dilemma" and he plans to take a step back and focus on the needs of his ward residents. Mayor Sam Katz was reluctant to accept his decision, he added.
"He wanted me to stay and I told him I can't stay with that group," Swandel said.
Katz said he was saddened by Swandel’s decision to leave but did not respond to Swandel’s comments about how well EPC was working.
Swandel will be replaced by Point Douglas Coun. Mike Pagtakhan, who has had two previous stints on EPC. Pagtakhan, whose ward includes part of downtown, will assume Swandel's old role of chair of council's downtown, riverbank and heritage committee.
"The mayor can’t live without me," joked Pagtakhan, who said he thought long and hard about his return to EPC.
Wyatt to become deputy mayor
Wyatt, meanwhile, will assume Swandel's title of deputy mayor and also takes over both the finance portfolio and the alternate-service-delivery chair from St. James-Brooklands Coun. Scott Fielding, who will become chair of protection and community services.
Former protection chair Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood-Tuxedo) will remain on EPC but will no longer chair a commmittee. She will retain her Assiniboine Park and corporate sponsorship responsibilities.
Katz denied Havixbeck was being demoted and would not respond to questions about whether her criticism of the fire-paramedic station replacement program played a role in that decision.
The two remaining EPC members -- North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty and St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal -- will retain their respective property and public works roles.
In non-EPC appointments, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi is council’s housing chair, St. Charles Coun. Grant Nordman retains the seniors’ advisory chair and rookie Elmwood-East Kildonan Coun. Thomas Steen becomes the councillor responsible for youth and recreational opportunities.
The changes will become official at council"s annual organizational meeting, slated for Nov. 7.
The shuffle also has implications on the 2014 mayoral election, as Swandel, Fielding, Wyatt and Havixbeck are all among councillors believed to be contemplating a mayoral run if Katz does not seek a fourth term in office.
When asked if he plans to run for mayor in 2014, Swandel replied: "I never close any doors and I love this city."
History
Updated on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 11:31 AM CDT: Adds comment from Swandel.
12:14 PM: updates
12:41 PM: adds missing date
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Tornadoes from huge Midwest storm system level homes in Oklahoma, cut power in other states
05/19/2013 9:09 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- The end of the credit card?
- Country music goes to pot
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Police make grow-op bust
- Fire damages St. Vital home
- Accused in alleged smartphone scam charged
- Katz bogeys again
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- The end of the credit card?
- Take me off your guest list, Harper
- Katz bogeys again
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Guitar-playing astronaut bows out of space station with music video of Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.