Wasylycia-Leis launches mayoral campaign

Former NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis has formally announced her campaign to run for mayor of Winnipeg.

At a news conference held at The Forks Market Tuesday, Wasylycia-Leis said she wants City Hall to be open to everyone, not just business.

It was a shot at current Mayor Sam Katz, a businessman who has been seen to be a pro-business politician.

"I've heard so many people tell me that they are proud proud to live here but they do not feel that their values and ideas are being represented at City Hall," Wasylycia-Leis said.

She said the city needs to be more open to charities, social groups and the marginalized, but did not elaborate on what that means.

"All Winnipeggers have a stake in the business of City Hall," she said.

Wasylycia-Leis, 58, has been talking to many Winnipeggers over the past few weeks, wanting to hear what they are looking for in their civic leaders and plans to continue that dialogue leading to the municipal election on Oct. 27.

Supporters at her news conference included former mayor Bill Norrie and Senator Sharon Carstairs, one-time leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Carstairs, who is serving as campaign co-chair, said Wasylycia-Leis has surrounded herself with a number of high-profile people who are determined to see her defeat Katz.

It was expected that list of people would be unveiled Tuesday, along with Wasylycia-Leis' platform, but that was not the case.

Wasylycia-Leis did not comment on recent hot topic issues like the rapid transit system, football stadium, or the continued freeze on property taxes, which has led the city to seek other sources of revenue by offering naming rights to everything from parking meters and pothole repair machines to memory sticks used in police cruisers.

Couns. Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre) and Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge) were also on hand to support Wasylycia-Leis, who resigned her federal seat for Winnipeg North last week.

She filed her papers on Monday for the mayoral race. It was the first day candidates were able to notify the city they wished to run for mayor.

Katz, who has held the city's top political post since 2004, said in December that he intended to seek re-election for a third term but he has yet to file his papers.

Coun. Lillian Thomas, who also announced in December that she would run, has had a change of heart.

She has decided to bow out of the race and support Wasylycia-Leis instead.

She also said she will not seek re-election in her Elmwood-East Kildonan ward.

Canada's chief electoral officer says the earliest a byelection can be held to replace Wasylycia-Leis in the Winnipeg North riding is June 21.