‘Habitual quitter’: Murray challenged to commit to full term as mayor

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This article was published 09/08/2022 (1125 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A political opponent is challenging mayoral candidate Glen Murray to commit in writing to serve a full term of office, should he be elected.

Murray previously served as Winnipeg’s mayor from 1998 to 2004. He cut his second four-year term short to make an unsuccessful run for the federal Liberals in the 2004 federal election.

Now seeking to become Winnipeg’s mayor again, Murray said during a June interview that he hopes to serve as mayor for eight years.

“I think it takes eight years to do what I’m thinking we’d do (if elected),” he said, just after registering to run for the top council job.

While describing his 2004 decision to leave his mayoral post, Murray said he felt compelled to seek a federal seat at that time to help secure more gas tax funding for cities.

“For me, it was one simple issue… we needed to correct the funding gap for cities,” he said.

One of the 13 other registered candidates for mayor, however, isn’t convinced by that verbal commitment that Murray would serve a full term.

Don Woodstock has scheduled a Wednesday news conference to challenge Murray to “sign a contract that if he is elected the next mayor of Winnipeg, he will not quit on the people of Winnipeg for the second time.” Woodstock refers to Murray as “a habitual quitter.”

Woodstock was tight-lipped on the matter during a Tuesday interview, stating that he would have more information available at his announcement. He said Murray’s decision to leave the post early in 2004 should be a concern for voters.

“Actions speak louder than words, talk is cheap,” said Woodstock.

He stressed he is personally committed to serving a full term as mayor, if he’s elected.

Murray was not available for an interview on Tuesday.

“If elected, Glen Murray intends to serve the full term,” a spokesperson said, in a brief emailed statement.

Winnipeggers will elect their next mayor and council on Oct. 26.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyane_pursaga