All rivals train guns on race leader Judy W-L

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This article was published 06/10/2014 (4069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With Judy Wasylycia-Leis’s 18-point lead holding firm and just over two weeks to voting day, her rivals spent the weekend positioning themselves as the only alternative to the left-leaning front-runner.

Brian Bowman told a Sunday-afternoon rally in his Portage Avenue campaign office Winnipeg doesn’t need a mayor who has been in politics since Howard Pawley was premier, repeating a theme he’s used often to criticize Wasylycia-Leis’s old-guard status.

Gord Steeves, who spoke to reporters Saturday, called himself the only conservative alternative to Wasylycia-Leis and repeated his characterization of Bowman as a “far-left” candidate who will spend billions on rapid-transit corridors and attempt to bring in a municipal sales tax.

“What is right-of-centre about Brian Bowman?” Steeves asked. “What is conservative about his policy?”

Late last week, a poll commissioned by the Winnipeg Free Press and CTV Winnipeg suggested Steeves is trailing in third place with the support of 16 per cent of decided voters. Former NDP MP and MLA Wasylycia-Leis is well ahead with 41 per cent and Bowman sits at 23 per cent, a figure he noted Sunday has grown from single digits early in the race and proves he has momentum.

Speaking to campaign workers, Bowman cast himself as the “big tent” candidate, name-checking supporters such as Winnipeg Jets co-owner Mark Chipman, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Dave Angus, the Filipino Journal’s Ron Cantiveros and former Conservative premier Gary Filmon and his wife, Janice.

Bowman said Filmon’s support belies the notion he’s not a real conservative.

“This isn’t a race to the right,” added Bowman. “I know that aggravates my opponents, who have described me as far-left and far-right. They haven’t been able to pigeonhole me.”

Bowman and Steeves acknowledged they have a lot of votes to make up between now and Oct. 22.

Steeves, who cancelled a press conference Friday and fuelled speculation he might scale back his campaign, is making an announcement this morning about controlling spending at city hall.

This week, Bowman is expected to focus on issues of greater interest to suburban voters.

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca