Former city councillor Michael Walters running to be next Edmonton mayor

Another candidate is throwing his hat in the ring to become the next mayor of Edmonton.

Former two-term city councillor Michael Walters is vying to replace outgoing mayor Amarjeet Sohi in this fall’s municipal election.

Walters says he’s the best candidate to manage the “growing pains” that come with Edmonton’s rapid growth.

“The greatest responsibility of the mayor and council is to create the conditions for an Edmonton that thrives and succeeds,” Walters said in a news release. “That will be my focus. I know I can make a positive difference for Edmonton, and help us fulfill our incredible civic potential.

“We have some of the world’s best educational institutions, the most affordable housing of any big city in Canada, a young, enthusiastic and ambitious workforce, and plenty of capital waiting to be put to work. The future for Edmonton is bright.”

Walters is running on promises to fast-truck housing; reform infill rules; reduce encampments; complete transit projects; and cut construction traffic delays.

“We can’t have a repeat of the last four years,” he said. “We need to turn the page, be more focused and more decisive. We need cool, calm and clear leadership grounded in collaboration – a leader that can work well with anyone – across political and ideological lines.”

The former community organizer at Bissell Centre and later Greater Edmonton Alliance entered politics in 2013 when he was elected to city council for the first of two consecutive terms. He did not seek re-election in 2021, moving instead to a career in corporate communications and advertising.

“I think it’s important to have a variety of voices in a mayor’s race like this,” said Walters. “On the one hand you have a fairly back to basics approach and on the other hand you have a very expansive approach and I think we sort of need to weave together a vision.”

Walters, who spent eight years as an Edmonton city councilor, told CityNews on Monday that he thinks there’s a space between councillors Tim Cartmell and Andrew Knack in the race to be Edmonton’s mayor. Walters says he’ll be running as an independent candidate.

“I think it’s important at a municipal level and at this moment in Edmonton to have a big tent approach,” said Walters. “I really value people from the centre-right, I really value people from the centre-left.”

 “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a 2019 council meeting all over again,” said Cartmell.

Walters is on the ballot alongside candidates such as Cartmell, Knack, Rahim Jaffer, Tony Caterina, and others.

Edmontonians head to the polls Oct. 20.