Edmonton mayoral candidates running under new election rules

Edmonton city councillor Tim Cartmell is officially launching his candidacy to be Edmonton’s next mayor. 

Cartmell will be one of the first to run under a municipal party thanks to changes from the province. And that could mean millions of dollars for a civic campaign.

“I think that’s a question for after the election, we’ll see where the dollars land and see what the various success levels are of the people who have dollars or don’t have dollars,” said Cartmell.

As Cartmell officially launches his mayoral campaign Thursday, it will be under a different playing field than past city elections. 

Cartmell will be running under the Better Edmonton political party at the civic level — allowed under the province’s Bill 20 which was passed late last year — which also would eliminate electronic voting tabulators, as well as increase the amount of donations and advertising spending party-affiliated candidates can spend between themselves, the party, and third party advertisers. 

Cartmell is waiting to see how an increase in dollars will impact the mayoral campaign, but adds, it shouldn’t matter at the riding level.

“At the neighbourhood level, a person who has support, has got community behind them, who has got some name recognition, frankly, that’s as valuable as maybe the dollars are,” said Cartmell.

Cartmell is not the only familiar face making a run for mayor. 

Former city councillor Tony Caterina will be running, telling CityNews he’ll be doing it as an independent. Adding, he thinks running against a party candidate with a bigger election war chest creates an unfair playing field and takes away independence.

“My personal worry is, who is going to actually be running? Elected under a party system as a mayor, are you making the decisions, or is someone else telling you in which direction to go — is the party going to be involved?.. I don’t believe Edmontonians are ready for this system,” said Caterina.

The municipal election is set for Oct. 20.