Katz takes shots at rival, NDP

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This article was published 23/06/2010 (5582 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s sleepy civic election campaign lurched back to life Tuesday as incumbent Mayor Sam Katz renewed his pledge to fight to stop the NDP from taking over city council this fall.

Six years to the date of his first election in 2004, Katz filed registration papers for his third run for public office and immediately portrayed his chief rival, former Winnipeg North MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, as “the leader of the NDP civic party.”

He also condemned the Manitoba New Democrats for holding nomination meetings in the city wards of Daniel McIntyre and Elmwood-East Kildonan.

“This election is going to be different than any election you’ve ever seen at the civic level,” Katz told reporters outside the city clerk’s office. “Obviously, party politics are part of the picture. You have one party that’s basically out nominating candidates. You have existing candidates who’ve been there for years who’ve been left out of the equation.

“You have political machinery, which is very good and very powerful. So it’s going to be a different election.”

The candidate “left out of the equation” is Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith, an 18-year council veteran who lost the NDP endorsement last month to Keith Bellamy, a constituency assistant to Winnipeg Centre MP Pat Martin. Earlier this week, NDP members in Elmwood-East Kildonan voted to endorse Shaneen Robinson, choosing the former CTV reporter over school trustee Rod Giesbrecht and Darryl Livingstone, executive assistant to retiring Elmwood-East Kildonan Coun. Lillian Thomas.

After spending six months praising the NDP for making its endorsement process public, Katz switched tacks Tuesday and criticized the NDP for bringing party politics “into the fray” at city hall. The public will decide whether this is appropriate, the mayor said.

Manitoba’s NDP has had an endorsement process for 20 years, although it is seldom used, countered provincial president Lorraine Sigurdson.

“I’m glad he’s so complimentary of our political machine,” Sigurdson said of Katz. “(But) the whole idea of candidates seeking the endorsement of the NDP, with the possibility of a nomination meeting, is not something we just invented in the last six months.”

Katz suggested NDP-affiliated candidates, including Wasylycia-Leis, will not be independent members of council. Although he has employed high-profile Conservatives in his office, Katz has always prided himself on having no party affiliation.

“Sam Katz doesn’t have a party except on my birthday and maybe next time we’ll invite you,” he said.

Smith said that’s irrelevant because Katz is a Conservative. “His idea the NDP is taking control? Let me tell you, the Conservatives have taken control. He’s selling off city services everywhere he can,” said Smith, who supports Wasylycia-Leis.

Wasylycia-Leis claimed Katz is trying to demonize the NDP instead of bringing ideas to the table.

“It’s interesting the mayor keeps trying to look for a bogeyman but when you look at city council right now, there are more Conservatives than we’ve ever had and that doesn’t bother me. I’m seeking support from all parties,” she said.

Registration allows candidates to raise and spend money. Council candidates may begin to register on June 30.

To appear on the election ballot on Oct. 27, mayoral and council candidates must submit nomination papers by September.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca