MP eyes Winnipeg's mayoral chair

Judy Wasylycia-Leis is considering turning her attention from Parliament to civic politics in order to take a run at Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz's job in October.

Waslylcia-Leis, 58, has represented Winnipeg North as an NDP MP in Ottawa since 1997. She was also a cabinet minister in the Manitoba government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988.

Recently she has been urged by a number of people to take aim at municipal politics and challenge Katz, she said.

"A lot of people have been asking me to consider this change in my political career," she said, adding that she hasn't made up her mind.

"It's not something I had thought about. I didn't contemplate going in this direction."

She admits she is giving it serious thought.

"I think these are folks that want to see City Hall returned to the people of our community, so it makes it compelling and it makes my decision very difficult."

The civic election is slated for Oct. 27.

Katz, 58, has been mayor since 2004 and last month stated his intention to seek a third term.

Veteran city Coun. Lillian Thomas has also announced her bid for the seat.

Thomas, 60,who has represented Elmwood-East Kildonan on council since 1989, has often been at odds with Katz on council matters and said those matters prompted her decision.

"Just every day I walk in [to work] and I say, 'What is he up to today?' and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like it," Thomas said when she announced she was stepping into the race.

Waslylcia-Leis wouldn't say when she might decide on whether to join the race.

Katz said he has a lot of respect for Wasylycia-Leis and welcomes the competition. He also said he is well aware of the efforts being made to get her to run.

"It's no secret because it has been made public that the NDP and some left-wing groups want to get control of City Hall," he said. "We're quite aware of the fact there's polling going on there with Judy's name on it."

Katz didn't name the groups he believes are behind the push for Wasylycia-Leis.