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If there’s one word that sums up the results of a Free Press / Probe Research poll showing only one in five Winnipeggers want to re-elect Mayor Scott Gillingham it’s this: opportunity.
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In the last election in 2022, three also-rans had legitimate chances of winning: former mayor Glen Murray, who placed second, former councillor Kevin Klein and policy wonk Shaun Loney.
It’s reasonable to think each of the three runners-up stole enough votes from the others to deny any of them victory. Murray finished with 49,272 votes, Klein with 28,806 and Loney with 28,567.
So far, only three candidates from 2022 are on the 2026 ballot: Gillingham, who won with 53,663 votes, Don Woodstock, who finished third from last with 1,889 votes and Chris Clacio, who mustered all of 451 votes.
Of the poll respondents not in favour of re-electing Gillingham, the sentiment rested on a continued deterioration in living standards, from higher crime, homelessness and number of encampments to a stagnant economy and a rise in addictions.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham gears up for an education in firefighting June 15. Considering the poll results, he may want to wear that gear when facing the electorate. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)
To be fair to any of Winnipeg’s 44 mayors to date, it’s not an easy job. Thanks to the City of Winnipeg Charter Act, mayor and council have access to a very limited number of economic levers. The city needs provincial permission to add, say, a civic sales tax, and the combination of municipal and education taxes on Winnipeggers’ property tax bills makes raising civic taxes politically risky.
The strongest challenger to Gillingham so far, at least until sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations — which he denies — arose on social media was arguably funeral home owner Michael Vogiatzakis. Older brother to slain restaurateur Kyriakos Vogiatzakis, Michael has a deeply vested interest in combatting crime and strong social media following. However, despite the presumption of innocence, the allegations could be fatal to his electoral hopes.
If ever there was a time for a high-profile candidate to throw his or her hat into the ring, it’s now. That could happen: the deadline to enter the race isn’t until Sept. 23.
Winning will also require a substantial election kitty. Gillingham’s audited financial statements from 2022 suggest the price of victory is $286,487.42. Voters will also want to see not only clear policy directives but a plan to achieve them, not vague campaign platitudes.
Whether any of the candidates so far has a legitimate chance at unseating Gillingham remains to be seen. The lack of profile of the challengers suggests despite the poll, Winnipeggers may find the incumbent the only reasonable choice.
However, it’s probably not a stretch to suggest a serious candidate should not have the email address drunkjesus00@gmail.com. Johnny Calderón, you might want to change that. Just sayin’.
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