Marty Morantz could be considering a federal run

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This article was published 24/04/2018 (2898 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Charleswood Coun. Marty Morantz is being coy about his political future and his indecision is providing an opportunity for a familiar face to challenge for the ward.

Morantz refused Tuesday to confirm news reports that say the first-time councillor is now considering contesting a riding for the federal Conservatives in the forthcoming federal election rather than seeking re-election to city council.

“With a civic election pending this October, this is to confirm that I am weighing my political options and will make an announcement as to my decision just as quickly as I am able,” Morantz said in statement sent to the Free Press and other media outlets.

When asked specifically if his options include a run federally, Morantz refused to respond.

CTV reported Morantz is considering contesting the federal Tory nomination in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley. That seat used to be held by Steven Fletcher, currently an independent MLA, but Fletcher has announced he wants it back and will run there federally.

The federal riding is also being contested by Stephen Barber, who announced his intentions in February to contest the nomination.

The federal riding is now held by Liberal Doug Eyolfson, who defeated Fletcher in 2015.

Morantz ran unsuccessfully in 2011 for the provincial Conservatives in the River Heights riding, finishing second to Liberal Jon Gerrard.

Morantz is now considered a key member of Mayor Brian Bowman’s inner circle. He is a member of Bowman’s executive policy committee and is currently chairman of council’s public works committee. He had been finance chairman during his first two years on council.

But Morantz took a public beating in the fall over the controversy surrounding the proposed Sterling Lyon Parkway extension through the south portion of his ward. The councillor claimed he was unaware of the proposed route and blamed engineering staff for covertly developing the plans that would have required the expropriation and demolition of a number of private homes.

Two senior planners in the engineering department subsequently quit their jobs in the fallout, and the city auditor is reviewing memos and emails exchanged between staff and politicians for a report to council expected in June.

While Morantz was bruised by the handling of the south Charleswood corridor project, the issue appears to have resurrected the political ambitions of the former councillor for the ward, Paula Havixbeck.

Havixbeck was hired by a south Charleswood residents group to advise them as they fought the project and appeared on their behalf several times at council and committee.

She had been the Charleswood councillor from 2010 to 2014, but gave up her seat in an unsuccessful run for mayor in the 2014 election.

“Yes, I am considering it again,” Havixbeck said. “I’ve had many resident ask me to consider it. They tell me they felt they were well represented when I was their city councillor and we accomplished a lot together in the community.”

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca