Thomas announces mayoral bid

Veteran city councillor Lillian Thomas will run for mayor in Winnipeg's 2010 civic election.

Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) made the announcement Wednesday morning, saying her 20 years of experience qualifies her for the top job.

The 60-year-old said herfrustrationwith recent council decisions endorsed by Mayor Sam Katz spurred her decision to run.

"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.

On Tuesday, Thomas voted against the city's $430-million capital budget, which included a proposal to spend $3.5 million to purchase a police helicopter.

She also opposed recent decisions to sell a revenue-generating city-owned parkade in downtown Winnipeg, as well asa planto contribute millionsin city fundingto a privately-owned water park.

Thomas said shewill makerapid public transit a cornerstone of her mayoral campaign.

Katz, who is usually coy when asked whether he will seek anotherterm, told CBC News on Wednesday that he has already made up his mind to run for a third time.

"As you and I sit here today, I have every intention of running," he said in a recent interview.

The only thing that would stop his re-election campaign is family, he added.

"If all of a sudden my daughters said, 'you know what daddy? We don't see you as much as we'd like.' I would quit politics like that," Katz said, snapping his fingers.

In his five years as mayor, Katz has faced ongoing criticism that his ownership of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club and his ties to the business and development community puts him in a conflict of interest position.

He expects that will continue as long as he sits in the mayor's chair but he is ready to deal with it.

"People always throw stones and when you run for public office you better be ready to catch them, or get out of the way."

The civicelection is slated for Oct. 27, 2010.