Even before Terry Cavanagh announced his intention to retire, Ward 6 was shaping up to be 2007's most interesting race. In 2004, Cavanagh had trouble holding on against Chinwe Okelu, who finished fewer than a thousand votes behind him. Okelu is running again, as is 2004 fourth place finisher Amarjeet Sohi, a bus driver, union leader, and activist with Public Interest Alberta.
Based on the 2004 results, Okelu would have to be considered the favourite to replace Cavanagh, but Sohi has increased his profile markedly during the past three years, and is running in a ward that has elected Dave Thiele three times, and Sohi is perceived as occupying a similar spot on the political spectrum as Thiele. If nothing else, either would help city council look a little bit more like the city it runs - currently, all thirteen members are of European descent.
Of course, if Thiele decides not to seek re-election (he hasn't made an announcement yet), both of 2004's runners-up might find themselves on council.
Showing posts with label Terry Cavanagh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terry Cavanagh. Show all posts
Monday, May 21, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Cavanagh retires
The big news on the municipal front today is that Terry Cavanagh is retiring at the end of his term, after twenty-seven years on City Council (including two brief stints as mayor). Cavanagh joins long-time colleague Michael Phair in declining to seek an umpteenth term. With Bryan Anderson and Mike Nickel (and Stephen Mandel) having made their decisions to seek re-election public, this leaves eight Councillors who are not yet on the record about their intentions.
In Ward 1, neither Councillor has given any indication either way, but both are likely to seek re-election.
In Ward 2, Kim Krushell seems almost certain to run again, despite unfounded rumours that she may seek the provincial nomination for the Progressive Conservative Party in Edmonton Strathcona (why would she do a thing like that in a riding in which the P.C.s finished with less than a third of the votes that the N.D.P. got in 2004?). Ron Hayter's a little iffier - he retired from City Council once before, and has been back for six years.
In Ward 3, Janice Melnychuk is expected to forego a re-election bid in favour of seeking provincial office, as NDP candidate for Edmonton Manning. No word yet on Ed Gibbons.
In Ward 4, Jane Batty is expected to seek re-election, having commented late last month that she was "leaning in that direction".
In Ward 6, Dave Thiele hasn't yet announced his intentions. He was courted to run for the NDP federally in Edmonton Millwoods Beaumont in 2006, and declined, but was it because he wanted to stick with municipal politics or for some other reason?
In Ward 1, neither Councillor has given any indication either way, but both are likely to seek re-election.
In Ward 2, Kim Krushell seems almost certain to run again, despite unfounded rumours that she may seek the provincial nomination for the Progressive Conservative Party in Edmonton Strathcona (why would she do a thing like that in a riding in which the P.C.s finished with less than a third of the votes that the N.D.P. got in 2004?). Ron Hayter's a little iffier - he retired from City Council once before, and has been back for six years.
In Ward 3, Janice Melnychuk is expected to forego a re-election bid in favour of seeking provincial office, as NDP candidate for Edmonton Manning. No word yet on Ed Gibbons.
In Ward 4, Jane Batty is expected to seek re-election, having commented late last month that she was "leaning in that direction".
In Ward 6, Dave Thiele hasn't yet announced his intentions. He was courted to run for the NDP federally in Edmonton Millwoods Beaumont in 2006, and declined, but was it because he wanted to stick with municipal politics or for some other reason?
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