Two council positions are acclaimed, but 46 candidates will compete for the other nine spots with shelters, taxes, donations and coyotes as key issues.
Serving on Saskatoon city council is often and accurately depicted as a steady diet of grief for comparatively poor pay.
So it’s difficult to imagine that someone would give up nearly $100,000 a year to join council.
Ford’s salary for 2023 is listed as $169,601; city councillors made $73,314 last year.
“I was looking for a new challenge in a position where I feel my experience can make a difference,” Ford said in an emailed response. “I also really care about this city.”
Provincial rules require city employees to take a leave of absence to run for office and resign their position if elected. Ford confirmed he intends to follow that course.
City archivist Jeff O’Brien said seven council members have been elected after working for the city, including two who were elected mayor. Most recently, Jim Maddin ran for council in 1997 after retiring as a police officer and was elected for a single term as mayor from 2000 to 2003.
Ernie Cole, who also served one term as mayor from 1965 to 1966, had worked as a city engineer prior to his mayoral run. Tommy Lennon was also elected to council in 1972, the same year he retired after 25 years as the city’s fire chief.
In a reversal, former mayor John McAskill resigned after four years in 1958 to take the position of city commissioner, the predecessor of the position of city manager today.
HISTORY MAKING
Even if Atchison wins, Mills would still hold the record for longest time between mayoral terms at 15 years.
Harder’s rambling campaign website is marred by poor grammar and fails to include any biographical information. But it does feature a 70-point rant on the Saskatchewan Party government, with one blurb titled “testicular fortitude.”
BOYCHUK’S BACK
Right-wing blogger and trucker Trent Lalonde, who had announced his intention to challenge Hill, apparently abandoned his campaign. If Hill wins and serves out his term, he will have logged 22 years on council.
ALM-OST THERE
Alm signed up to make a presentation to council on a downtown homeless shelter and posed a question. But Mayor Charlie Clark politely informed Alm that the longstanding format only allowed presentations, not questions. Alm paused and asked another question before retreating back to his seat.
COYOTE CLASH
Kitzul, who lives in Ward 1, was also involved in Kaitlyn Harvey’s unsuccessful campaign to become provincial NDP leader.
Kitzul finished second behind Conservative MP Kevin Waugh in the 2021 federal election. Donauer ran unsuccessfully for Stephen Harper’s Conservatives in 2015.
Donauer filed an affidavit denying the claims, as first reported by CTV in July.
TAX-FREE FOR FOUR YEARS?
His website says: “You deserve to be tax free for four years.” And “four years” is underlined using animation.
Tax free? Really? As in no property taxes? Or no taxes at all? Is this an aspirational statement or a promise?
It’s ridiculous enough when candidates promise low or no property tax increases. Beliveau also wants to solve homelessness, addiction and crime, apparently without tax revenue.
VETERANS ACCLAIMED
Council veterans Bev Dubois (Ward 9) and Zach Jeffries (Ward 10) will be acclaimed, as nobody stepped up to challenge them. Jeffries defeated Dubois in the 2012 election, but Dubois returned to council in 2016, opting to run in the ward vacated by Tiffany Paulsen.
Acclamations usually dampen voter turnout, which could be bad news for mayoral candidates Atchison and Wyant. Atchison, formerly the Ward 10 alderman, relied on support in the suburbs, like these two east-side districts.
Wyant, a former Saskatchewan Party cabinet minister, will also depend on voters in these suburban areas where the right-wing governing provincial party he served for 14 years has enjoyed support.
In Ward 10, public school trustee Angela Arneson has also been acclaimed, which will further discourage turnout.
FIVE VACANCIES
Three candidates are vying to represent Ward 3, the fewest in any vacant ward this election.
STARTING SALVO
He boasted that he is not accepting “union cash,” “political favours” or “any of that ‘dirty money’.” He added, without providing proof, “If you follow the money, you’ll see that all my opponents are backed by the same old unions and people that got us into this mess.”
A few days ago, he posted a video saying the “business tax rate” needs to be lowered, which will be interpreted by many as shifting the tax burden to residents. Wiens does not appear to have clarified how he is funding his campaign.
As far as donations go, public service unions generally only contribute to the campaigns of council incumbents.
Phil Tank is the digital opinion editor at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
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