Stuart’s the fly in the ointment

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This article was published 12/09/2014 (4417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Taz Stuart wants to work for the City of Winnipeg again — this time, as an elected official.

The former city entomologist says he’s about to throw his name in the ring for the River Heights-Fort Garry council seat occupied by five-year incumbent John Orlikow.

Stuart, who worked as Winnipeg’s chief bug-fighter from 2004 to 2013, said he plans to register his campaign and submit nomination papers on Saturday, three days before the deadline for council candidates to reserve a space on the Oct. 22 ballot.

“I’ve been on the inside and I’d like to be on the outside,” Stuart said in an interview, asserting his experience as a city manager would allow him to help make the public service more efficient, as a councillor. “I believe I’m someone who has intrinsic knowledge of the city, and I think that’s an asset.”

Before his departure from the city last year, the long-haired insect-control manager was a household name — and even more unusually, a recognizable face — among normally anonymous municipal public servants.

His celebrity presents a challenge to Orlikow, already battled-tested by a pair of head-to-head races against organized competitors in the span of 18 months.

In 2009, Orlikow dispatched broadcaster Geoff Currier in a spring byelection to succeed the late Brenda Leipsic. In 2010, Orlikow fought off a challenge from a tougher competitor in Michael Kowalson, who’s now managing Charleswood-Tuxedo council candidate Marty Morantz’s campaign.

Orlikow, who briefly considered a mayoral run this year, said he is prepared for a race against Stuart.

“We’re running our campaign the same way, no matter who runs,” Orlikow said in an interview. “I’ve never seen Taz in politics before. I’m not sure who’s backing him and why he’s even running.”

Stuart insisted he is running for a council seat, not to depose Orlikow, whom he described as “a good guy.” Stuart acknowledged his public profile will aid his effort to unseat an incumbent councillor, a relatively rare feat in Winnipeg.

“Name recognition is big, but at the end of the day, I love the city,” said Stuart, a Regina native who once held season tickets for both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Stuart would not discuss his September 2013 departure from the city, which followed a five-week period during which he did not make any appearances on behalf of the city and was not seen at work.

At the time, a number of sources within the city alleged his absence followed a single complaint about a voice message he left in July 2013. One source alleged the message consisted of six words.

During his time with the city, Stuart spoke to media so often, officials occasionally grumbled his profile eclipsed his job description.

His successor, Ken Nawolsky, occupies far less of a spotlight.

Stuart also butted heads with members of council on occasion. In 2010, an election year when adult mosquitoes emerged in large numbers, Stuart was asked by Mayor Sam Katz and former St. Vital Coun. Gord Steeves to see whether the city could reduce the size of malathion-spraying buffer zones. The pesticide’s product monogram, it later emerged, only allowed those zones to be reduced to 90 metres from 100.

Stuart said he waited until days before the deadline to enter the River Heights-Fort Garry race because he was busy earlier this summer preparing for the world dragon-boat championship.

 

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca