‘Untapped potential’: former councillor, MLA Klein says he’ll run for mayor

Former city councillor and provincial cabinet minister Kevin Klein says he will soon enter the race to become Winnipeg’s next mayor.

“I do love this city and I love this province. I have been very blessed with a good life here. I have met some fantastic people. We have had business success here,” said Klein. “It means a lot to me and the future of the city means a lot to me. I believe that we have so much untapped potential that I felt I should do something about it.”

Klein, a former Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood councillor and Manitoba Progressive Conservative environment minister, finished third in the 2022 mayoral race with 28,806 votes. Scott Gillingham claimed a narrow victory with 53,663, followed by Glen Murray with 49,272.

Klein said he had decided not to enter the 2026 mayoral race weeks ago due to an unspecified health scare that required surgery. After recovering, he said he decided to run in the Oct. 28 election.

He said he felt compelled to run largely because key city issues, such as perceptions of public safety in the downtown, have grown worse over the past four years.

Klein is currently the president and CEO of the Klein Group, which owns the Winnipeg Sun. Due to that role and his political past, he is expected to draw more attention to the race.

Gillingham, who is seeking re-election as mayor, put out a written statement Tuesday morning soon after Klein confirmed his plans, which labels the former city councillor as a “toxic” candidate.

“Kevin Klein is notorious for his work as a Caribbean political fixer for Peter Nygard — and that’s just one of many controversies from his career. Members of every political party have been targeted by Klein’s constant attacks and personal criticisms. At a point when the governments of Canada and Manitoba are collaborating with Winnipeg on major priorities, electing Klein will send a signal to close those doors of co-operation,” the statement said.

Klein worked for now-disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard over two periods, including about four months in 2012 and two weeks in 2014. Nygard was later convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault.

In an interview, Gillingham said that work experience is part of Klein’s record that should be highlighted for voters.

“People in Winnipeg need to know who Kevin Klein is. And he’s got a history of questionable relationships, including with Peter Nygard,” he said.

Klein promptly refuted the claim he served as a “fixer” for Nygard as “totally false.”

“It is not true. As I’ve said on numerous occasions, I worked for Peter for four months. I found out that I did not like the person, I did not like working for him and I quit,” he said.

Klein accused Gillingham of “acting like (U.S. President) Donald Trump now and starting a smear campaign.”

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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