Big-name endorsements enter Edmonton mayoral race

With lawn signs popping up across the city and political momentum building, former mayor Stephen Mandel has thrown his support behind Michael Walters as the city’s next mayor.

“I think if you look at the last four years of this council, and it’s been very fractured, and it seems there’s been an awful lot of problems getting things done — moving things forward,” said Mandel. “And we need someone who’s a conciliator, who can get things done.”

Recent polls have shown that the race for Edmonton’s next mayor is still has a wide open.

Mandel told CityNews that Edmontonians will have a lot of issues on their minds as they cast their vote in October, but he has already made his pick with former councillor Walters.

“There’s some areas that are really frustrated about development and zoning — people are infuriated about that, and I don’t blame them,” said Mandel.  “A lot of people are frustrated with taxes why they keep going up and they don’t see any increase in services, all they see is increase in costs. And we need to look at more creative ways of dealing with homelessness, but also creative solutions to our problems with housing.

In a crowded mayoral race, with two sitting councillors and a former MP, besides Walters, political watchers say that while a notable endorsement helps, the candidates still have a long way to go on the campaign trail.  

“Edmontonians are asking for answers,” said Chaldeans Mensah, political science professor at MacEwan University. “They’re dissatisfied with the performance of council for the past couple of years. They want candidates they can trust — that can aspire a new vision for Edmonton.”

On Monday, the municipal elections became more visible, it was the first day lawn signs can be installed on public property under election rules.

Mayoral candidate Andrew Knack said that he won’t look for public signage. Instead, he will put his focus on signs requested by voters on their lawns. Meanwhile another candidate Tony Caterina is forgoing lawn signs all together.

Mensah said that even in the digital age, signs still have influence.

“The old-fashioned signs are important,” said Mensah. “It is visibility, it shows that you are in the game — people drive by and see your smiling face. It is something. I would not give that up in a race where every little nuance can make a difference.”

Edmonton’s election is set for Oct. 20.