Rookie councillor to run for Edmontons top job
Ward 11 councillor Kerry Diotte announced recently that he will be running for the position of mayor of Edmonton in the city’s municipal election in October.
The announcement reveals Diotte as the first declared candidate in the 2013 mayoral race. Poster printing and brochure printing will no doubt be underway soon as the councillor begins campaigning in his bid for the city’s top position.
In a prepared statement Diotte, said:
It isn’t yet known whether or not the current mayor, Stephen Mandel, will pursue re-election for a fourth term now the deal has been passed for a new downtown arena. The new venue plans were a major project of mayor Mandel.
Diotte has been a vocal opponent of the development, however. He recently went on record as one of three members of the council who voted against the funding deal for the arena, which has been in the spotlight of Edmonton politics in recent months.
The two are well known opponents of each other and make no attempts to hide the fact that they have extremely differing political positions.
In a recent television interview, mayor Mandel laughed out loud at the suggestion that Diotte may announce his candidacy for the job. When questioned about his reaction, Mandel stated that in his opinion, Diotte hasn’t done anything as a councillor and spends his time in council meetings tweeting rather than paying attention.
The stage seems to have been set for a potentially polarizing election filled with strong rivalry.
The announcement reveals Diotte as the first declared candidate in the 2013 mayoral race. Poster printing and brochure printing will no doubt be underway soon as the councillor begins campaigning in his bid for the city’s top position.
In a prepared statement Diotte, said:
“Edmontonians have told me it’s time for new leadership and new direction at city hall.”
It isn’t yet known whether or not the current mayor, Stephen Mandel, will pursue re-election for a fourth term now the deal has been passed for a new downtown arena. The new venue plans were a major project of mayor Mandel.
Diotte has been a vocal opponent of the development, however. He recently went on record as one of three members of the council who voted against the funding deal for the arena, which has been in the spotlight of Edmonton politics in recent months.
The two are well known opponents of each other and make no attempts to hide the fact that they have extremely differing political positions.
In a recent television interview, mayor Mandel laughed out loud at the suggestion that Diotte may announce his candidacy for the job. When questioned about his reaction, Mandel stated that in his opinion, Diotte hasn’t done anything as a councillor and spends his time in council meetings tweeting rather than paying attention.
The stage seems to have been set for a potentially polarizing election filled with strong rivalry.