Rival hopefuls tap voter snarls over bike lanes, traffic circles

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/10/2010 (5513 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The power of incumbency may not mean a lot in River Heights-Fort Garry, where voters have been served by four councillors in a little over six years.

In 2004, Garth Steek left office in the affluent ward to run for mayor in a race won by Sam Katz. Steek’s successor, Donald Benham, was defeated two short years later by Brenda Leipsic, who died in office of cancer in 2008.

When John Orlikow won the ensuing byelection in March 2009, he knew he’d only have 19 months to cement his position as councillor in a ward where residents have a reputation for being demanding.

Three weeks before an election, many of those residents are confused or angry about new bike and pedestrian upgrades that include traffic circles on Grosvenor Avenue and changes to curbs and parking on other streets.

As a result, Orlikow has been forced to walk a political tightrope that’s seen him defend the projects he supported on the floor of council, while decrying what he calls “a horrible process” of public consultation.

“We’re having a few hiccups. Wait until we get through them,” the 41-year-old rookie councillor said Monday during an interview in which he described the commuter-cycling upgrades as good for the city but flawed in their execution.

Tight federal funding timelines for Winnipeg’s $20.4-million active-transportation project made it impossible to properly consult the public about the new transportation amenities and make any changes, he said.

City staff have bristled at the criticism, while Katz has accused Orlikow of being among a small group of councillors who failed to provide proper oversight.

Now, Orlikow’s sole opponent in River Heights-Fort Garry — Winnipeg’s most compelling two-candidate council race — has joined the fray. Michael Kowalson, a self-described Red Tory who is actively supporting Katz’s re-election effort, claimed Orlikow “can’t have it both ways” on active transportation and should be held to account.

“There is some hysteria out there,” Kowalson said about opponents of cycling upgrades, which he also supports. “But there’s also a lot of anger. I heard it the first day I went out door-knocking, at the very first door.”

Kowalson, who owns a Subway outlet on Taylor Avenue, is attempting to paint Orlikow with a “wishy washy” label St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel once applied to the River Heights incumbent. But Katz allies such as outgoing Old Kildonan Coun. Mike O’Shaughnessy have praised Orlikow as “a bright light” who tends to vote independently on the floor of council.

Orlikow said he will not endorse either Katz or primary challenger Judy Wasylycia-Leis and will work with either candidate. Kowalson insists his opponent has no relationship with Katz. Orlikow did not comment about Kowalson.

Both candidates have similar backgrounds. Kowalson is Jewish, 35, and has one small child. Orlikow is 41, of Jewish descent and has two children.

The race between the two may be determined by voter turnout. In order to win, Kowalson must end the voter apathy in conservative Linden Woods and Linden Ridge, where voters largely stayed home in 2009. But Orlikow will prevail if he can again muster the support he had in the other three quadrants of the ward.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca