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Katz eyes new face for inner circle

Position vacant since Steeves' resignation

By: Bartley Kives

Posted: 10/26/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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John Orlikow

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Thomas Steen

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Mike Pagtakhan (BORIS MINKEVICH)

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Grant Nordman (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

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Devi Sharma

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Russ Wyatt

JUST in time for Halloween, Mayor Sam Katz is looking for some fresh brains.

Winnipeg's mayor is seeking a body to fill a vacancy on city council's powerful executive policy committee, which has been down one member since Gord Steeves resigned in August.

The position needs to be filled by Nov. 2, when council holds its annual organizational meeting, a ceremonial gathering where the main task is to hand out committee responsibilities to elected officials.

Katz is unlikely to demote any of the existing members of EPC, who all chair a major committee. St. James Coun. Scott Fielding handles finance, North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty runs property, St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal is responsible for public works, Charleswood-Tuxedo Coun. Paula Havixbeck chairs protection and community services and St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel runs the downtown, heritage and riverbank committee.

The new appointee to EPC likely won't be given a committee responsibility. Katz said Tuesday he is considering several members of council but did not tip his hand as to whom he may be favouring.

"There are many choices and every one of them is being considered," Katz said. "I'm just getting into the process of making this decision."

After an informal survey at city hall, here are the top candidates for the job:

1. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan)

The rookie councillor from Winnipeg's northernmost ward is the leading contender to join EPC, primarily because she was strongly considered immediately following the 2010 municipal election. Sharma has tended to vote alongside Katz on the floor of council and would make a presentable deputy mayor, a largely ceremonial role that involves attending public functions on behalf of the mayor. Swandel is the current deputy mayor, but acting deputy Havixbeck has handled some of the load in recent months.

"I'm always seeing if I can expand my role," Sharma said on Tuesday. "But I can't deal with hypotheticals. No one's approached me."

2. Thomas Steen (Elmwood-East Kildonan)

Like Sharma, Steen has tended to vote alongside Katz on the floor of council. Steen would also make a desirable deputy mayor, given his history as one of the most popular members of the original Winnipeg Jets.

The knock against the athlete-turned-politician would be a lack of administrative experience compared to Sharma, who owns a community newspaper.

3. Grant Nordman (St. Charles)

The sophomore councillor, who serves as council's speaker, has amassed more than enough experience to serve on EPC. He also tends to vote alongside Katz and would expand the unofficial Progressive Conservative caucus on EPC to four members, if appointed. But although Nordman is the most qualified member of council who has never served on EPC, he also doesn't want the job.

"There's still a few things I'd like to achieve as speaker and I think the mayor knows that," said Nordman, who recently butted heads with Katz on matters ranging from the removal of tax-exempt status from a portion of council salaries to the way ceremonial keys to the city have been awarded.

4. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry)

When Katz appointed the NDP-affiliated Vandal to EPC in 2010, the mayor signalled a willingness to invite councillors from the other side of the political spectrum into the EPC fold. As a left-leaning Liberal, Orlikow would make for an unlikely but not outlandish EPC appointment.

"Katz has been willing to allow his inner circle to disagree with him as of late," said Orlikow, referring to a trio of EPC votes against Winnipeg's new garbage plan in early October.

The main obstacle is the two men do not appear to like each other. As well, Katz policy director Derek Rolstone worked on Michael Kowalson's tough campaign against Orlikow in River Heights in 2010.

Dark horses: Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona)

Since Pagtakhan and Wyatt have both sat on EPC before, Katz could invite them back into the fold. But it's unlikely the mayor would bother, given the existence of other candidates.

The remaining members of council -- left-wing councillors Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge), Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre) and Ross Eadie (Mynarski) -- are simply too critical of the mayor to be viable candidates.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 26, 2011 B1

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