Voters will soon decide who will be the next mayor.
After weeks of campaigning, numerous debates, countless public appearances, policy announcements, public opinion polls and the like, decision day has arrived for the citizens of Winnipeg.
Who will we choose as the next mayor of our fine city?
When voters arrive at the polling booth on Wednesday, they will be asked to put an ‘X’ beside one of the following names:
Brian Bowman, Michel Fillion, Paula Havixbeck, Robert-Falcon Oullette, David Sanders, Gord Steeves or Judy Wasylycia-Leis.
The big question in my mind, after listening to many (yet not all) of the mayoral candidate forums during this campaign is this:
How will the new mayor effectively engage Winnipeggers in the process of change for the better?
It has been exciting and heartening to recognize the good intentions of candidates despite the competitive aspect of the campaign – which it seems is the nature of the beast. A good leader does not have all the answers. A good leader has the ability to empower people and bring out the best in them. That includes the people who did not vote.
The new mayor of Winnipeg needs to develop the mechanisms to effectively bring people and groups forward, listen and allow for process and implementation.
So, as you go to the polls tomorrow, and decide who you will vote for, bring this measuring stick with you and ask, ‘Will this candidate effectively engage citizens in the process of change for the better?’ Hopefully, answering that question helps you make your decision.
Six of the seven candidates vying for the mayor’s job. (Gord Steeves is absent).
All photos by James Turner
