Katz says EPC resignations not a reflection on him

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This article was published 28/10/2013 (4650 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sam Katz says two resignations from the powerful executive policy committee within days is not a reflection on him or the recent scandals at city hall.

Katz said councillors Dan Vandal and Scott Fielding already said they would not be running again for council, adding it makes sense for them to leave EPC now.

“People are doing things for their own future careers and I think good on them,” Katz said this morning

Vandal (St. Boniface) said this morning he’s resigning from EPC to concentrate on his bid to run as a Liberal in the next federal election.

Vandal said he will stay on EPC, and plans to chair committee meetings this week, until Katz can find a replacement for him.

However, Katz appears to be ignoring the criticisms leveled by Coun. Scott Fielding when he abruptly resigned from EPC on Friday.

Fielding (St. James-Brooklands) said he quit EPC because he is not pleased with a pending property-tax increase that Katz and EPC will present to council for 2014.

Fielding will not run for re-election as a councillor but is considering challenging Katz for mayor or running for the Progressive Conservatives in the next provincial election.

Fielding said last week that Katz is losing credibility and questioned whether he would be a viable candidate in 2014.

Meanwhile, former St. Vital councillor Gord Steeves held a news conference this afternoon where he announced he’s running for mayor in 2014.

Coun. Paula Havixbeck said this morning supporters from across the city are pressuring her to run for mayor in 2014 but added she hasn’t made up her mind on the move.

Havixbeck (Charleswood-Tuxedo) said she’s more convinced now that the governance model at city hall is broken, explaining the cabinet-style of government needs to be replaced by a system that includes all members of council in decision making.

Katz said he expects to announce replacements for Fielding and Vandal by Friday, adding he doesn’t anticipate any problems finding councillors willing to sit on EPC.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca