It’s official: Judy Wasylycia-Leis is stepping up to face incumbent Sam Katz in the race for mayor.
Wasylycia-Leis, who resigned her seat in Parliament as the NDP representative for Winnipeg North last week, officially registered her campaign Monday afternoon at the city clerk’s office.
“There’s no going back now,” said Wasylycia-Leis, 58, after stepping out of the clerk’s office at city hall. “Signed, sealed, delivered — I’m registered.”
Registration is necessary before prospective mayoral candidates can solicit funds and start campaigning.
Wasylycia-Leis wouldn’t go into detail about her platform but said she plans to do so Tuesday at a news conference at 11:30 a.m. at The Forks to officially kick off her campaign.
“I’m going to beat (Katz) by working hard and presenting a vision the people want,” she said. “I’m very happy to have made the decision and now the work starts. I’m ready for the fight.”
Wasylycia-Leis served 13 years as a member of Parliament and previously spent seven years as a Manitoba MLA, from 1986 to 1993.
Former Manitoba Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs will act as Wasylycia-Leis’s campaign co-ordinator.
Wasylycia-Leis said she hopes to get backing from people of many different political stripes in the lead-up to the Oct. 27 civic election.
“I’ve always said from the very beginning that I would not present as a candidate unless I could prove that I had support from a wide range of folks in this province and from all political parties, and I know I’ve got support,” she said.
Mayoral candidates can register until Sept. 21. The nomination period for mayoral candidates runs from Sept. 15 to 21, during which prospective contenders must collect and submit at least 250 signatures of eligible voters before being placed on the ballot.
Wasylycia-Leis is the only person registered for the mayoral race so far.
Elmwood-East Kildonan Coun. Lillian Thomas had committed to run late last year, but has now bowed out and said she’ll support Wasylycia-Leis.
Thomas, who has served on council since 1989, said she won’t be running for her seat again this fall. She said her assistant of six years, Darryl Livingstone, will be run in the ward.
Katz has said he plans to run again, but did not register Monday.
Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt, who had kicked around the idea of a mayoral run, announced Friday he would not be seeking the position.
By JASON HALSTEAD, Winnipeg Sun
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