McHattie gets support of 3 councillors at campaign launch

They stopped short of an official endorsement, but three councillors stepped forward to publicly offer encouragement to mayoral hopeful Brian McHattie at his official campaign launch even offering subtle discouragement to current mayor Bob Bratina.

Ward 2 councillor Jason Farr was the master of ceremonies. Flamborough councillor Robert Pasuta showed up in support. And Mountain councillor Terry Whitehead wrote a letter encouraging McHattie in his mayoral run, which Farr read at the packed event on Tuesday.

About 400 people attended the event atLIUNAStation, many of them environmentalists, transit advocates and new Hamilton"urbanists.The team has work to do to reach out to the suburbs,McHattiesaid.

Thats why I started this campaign so earlyto have the opportunity to go right across the city, having events across the city, he said.

You start from where you live and you build out from there.

Asked why he agreed to be the Ward 1 councillor'smaster of ceremonies,Farr said: Brian has never failed to be there for me for the last three years.So I was honoured to be playing the role of master of ceremonies.

If Bratina asked for a similar favour, Farr said, I would have to check my calendar.

Pasuta, who represents Ward 14, said he accepted McHatties invitation to the event because McHattie is a friend and colleague.

Conversely, if Bratina asked him to attend an event, Pasuta said he would attend because hes the mayor."

Whiteheads letter, meanwhile, touted McHattieas a candidate who deserves every serious consideration.

You make an excellent candidate for mayor, wrote Whitehead, who often disagrees with McHattie at the council table. Democracy is enriched when there are clear choices provided to the people of this community.

It was a boost for McHattie in a race expected to include Bratina and former mayor Fred Eisenberger. Former councillor Don Ross has already declared, as well as Crystal Lavigne and Michael Baldasaro.

Under the slogan Together we can do more, McHattie pledged to listen to residents to help build his platform. He promised stronger neighbourhoods, smarter growth, transparent government, a healthier environment and more jobs.

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Campaign chair Todd White is at the centre of a core team of about 15, many with campaign experience. White is the constituency assistant of Hamilton East MPP Paul Miller and ran Millers 2007 and 2011 campaigns. He is also running for reelection as a Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, and as a McMaster University student, he volunteered for McHatties 2003 campaign.

He was the first politician I think Ive ever cast a ballot for," White said.

McHattiehopes to raise enough money fora campaign budget of $250,000. With Farr at the mic, his team raised nearly $32,000 at the launch, also the official start of campaign fundraising.

• RELATED:Don Ross, former councillor, is running for Hamilton mayor
• RELATED:Q&A:McHattiesays he's not just about the environment

There are strong McHattie supporters in Flamborough, Pasuta said. But he does have work to do.

It is a rural area, and Brians more downtown, he keeps pushing bicycles, things like that, Pasuta said. Its an issue for some of them.