Election wins in the bag?

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This article was published 22/08/2022 (1373 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five Winnipeg city councillors currently face zero competition in the October election with just under a month left for candidates to register.

“I am surprised that we haven’t seen more competition, or at least more challengers, at this stage of the game,” said Christopher Adams, a political scientist at St. Paul’s College at the University of Manitoba.

As of late Monday afternoon, only the current city councillor was registered to run in the following wards: Fort Rouge – East Fort Garry, North Kildonan, Old Kildonan, St. Norbert-Seine River and Waverley West. That means up to five of 15 city councillors, who join the mayor on a 16-member city council, could wind up having no competition in their re-election bids.

While additional candidates could register to enter those races until Sept. 20 at 4:30 p.m., Adams said the apparent lack of interest is unusual.

“The civic election has received a fair amount of attention… but I think the word is out that, overwhelmingly, incumbents get re-elected to city council (and) individuals who may want to challenge these sitting incumbents, they might want to think about the money they’d have to spend, the time, etc. (to do so). So, I think there’s just a sense of… maybe futility in challenging incumbents in this race,”

Since municipal candidates don’t have the official backing, organizing team and label that comes with running for a political party, Adams said the individual demands of a municipal campaign may deter some potential contenders.

“You’re kind of on your own campaigning in a large area without a political organization backing you,” said Adams.

If numerous municipal candidates face no competition this fall, the city may also have lower voter turnout, since residents most concerned with their own wards might be less likely to show up at the polls, he said.

“If we do see (this) many candidates re-elected just simply due to (having) no challengers, I think there should be some examination done of the process of elections for the city. Maybe the wards should be made smaller, maybe more councillors (should be) around the table, so that it’s less daunting to run for city council,” said Adams.

Markus Chambers, the councillor and sole contender for the St. Norbert-Seine River seat, said the considerable public criticism a city councillor faces may deter some potential candidates from running.

“I don’t think it’s an issue of apathy, especially with what we’re facing in our city, in terms of addictions, mental health, poverty, homelessness. Those are real issues and those are things that people are really vocal about,” said Chambers. “There’s some people that, despite the fact that they are in tune with the issues, don’t want to come forward and be that target or that lightning rod for criticism about the decisions that are being made.”

Coun. Janice Lukes, who was acclaimed in Waverley West in 2018 and currently has no challenger for the Oct. 26 vote, said she agrees personal attacks on politicians may reduce the lure of a council position, especially due to some of the more “vicious” comments made on social media.

“It is a vicious, polarized world right now. We’re not talking thick skin (being required), we’re talking Kevlar,” said Lukes.

Like Chambers, she believes the lack of competition in some wards doesn’t reflect apathy in Winnipeg, since the majority of voters she meets are very engaged with civic issues. The councillor said the 24/7 nature of the work, as well as changes to many Winnipeggers’ priorities during the pandemic, may also affect the number of candidates who sign up.

“The pandemic sort of reduced the amount of circulating and socializing… and everyone is regrouping from (it),” said Lukes.

However, the councillor stressed there’s still time for candidates to register.

“There’s (nearly) 30 days. In politics, the world can change in 30 days,” she said.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga