WHO WILL BE OSHAWA’S NEXT MAYOR?

-A LOOK AT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES- By Dean Hickey The next municipal election is still two years away, but when it comes to making a bid for the Mayor’s chair, it’s never too early to start speculating on who might seek the top job on council. Rumours abound that current mayor Dan Carter has no intention of seeking re-election in 2026, and this would leave the field wide open for others on council to seek higher office. One need only take a glance at social media to quickly recognize the active campaigning by one or more councillors as they jostle each other over never-ending photo opportunities for every cause imaginable. Below is an alphabetized list of councillors and others who may be seen as most likely to try to fill the void upon Mayor Dan Carter’s retirement. BOB CHAPMAN…. The Ward 3 Regional councillor was first elected in 2010, and aside from a brief absence during a failed campaign for the provincial PC Party in 2018, he has been a member of council ever since. His previous career in law enforcement spanned 30 years, and he remains an honorary colonel of the Ontario Regiment, having also served in the Canadian Armed Forces. His list of committee appointments is extensive and he has certainly taught himself the intricacies of municipal governance, but to what end? At times he seems more intent on continuing his political career as nothing more than a ventriloquists doll perched on mayor Dan Carter’s knee, and the citizens of Oshawa deserve much better. On a personal level, councillor Chapman has been seen by some as having more than once stepped over the line of acceptable behaviour, due to his often abrupt manner when in the council chamber, an attribute that can hardly be seen as mayoral. JOHN GRAY.... Currently the local councillor for Ward 5, John Gray began his political career in 1994 as a rookie councillor who would go on to become mayor from 2003 to 2010, defeated long-time mayor Nancy Diamond. His record as mayor includes the building of the Tribute Centre, Delpark Homes Centre, South Oshawa Community Centre, and of course a major re-build at city hall. Nevertheless, it was the perception of a free-spending mayor that would ultimately be his undoing in the 2010 election that saw John Henry take over the top job. Since returning to council six years ago, John Gray appears to have taken a cautious approach to politics and as such has often been referred to as yesterday’s man. He will need a major rebranding should he wish to capture the hearts and minds of today’s voters for a return to the mayor’s job. JOE INGINO…. A local independent businessman and longtime proprietor of The Central newspaper, Joe Ingino is no stranger to politics, having offered up some heavy criticism against what he sees as a lack of progress in the downtown core and elsewhere. He has invested 30 years of his life writing about municipal politics, and his determination to make Oshawa a better place does not appear to have wavered during that time. He is man with big ideas who speaks his mind, and has certainly seen his share of controversy due to his straight forward approach. He is, nevertheless, determined to stay focused on all that he sees as necessary for the betterment of the community. No-one can deny his is an independent voice that is far removed from the collective that reigns supreme in the corridors of power at city hall. RICK KERR… First elected to council in 2014 and now representing Ward 4 at the Regional Level, Rick Kerr is seen by most of his colleagues as someone who is honest and easy to work with. His first foray into politics saw him campaign in a city-wide election, which is a daunting task for a newcomer. Having retired from a 30-year teaching career, he has taken on the role of councillor with energy and optimism, even as his ward has faced issues of homelessness and drug addiction on downtown streets. His particular contribution to the cultural aspect of the city has included work on local music events and his ongoing attempt to see Oshawa as an arts, culture, and entertainment destination. At the same time, he has garnered a reputation for moving too quickly from one initiative to another, often weekly, in his ambitious attempt to see multiple project through to completion. While no-one can fault his enthusiasm, the problems facing residents in the downtown area are real and persistent, and will require more than arts and entertainment as a solution. TITO-DANTE MARIMPIETRI…. The King of photo-ops, this Ward 2 Regional councillor seems to want to be everywhere at once. Born and raised in Oshawa, he began his political career at the tender age of 24, and by 35 he could boast having chaired several committees, being assigned the role of deputy mayor, and ultimately elected to a Regional seat. He is currently chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee, a demanding role in a time of record investment in new residential and commercial developments. He is not, however, a man without some controversy on council, and this is an aspect of his career that will forever chase him in the form of documents available on the internet. He won his seat by a narrow margin, and is known to harbour a general distrust of those he sees as an impediment to his goals, leading to a weakening of his ability to establish effective working relationships. BRADLEY MARKS…. Being the grandson of Ernest Marks, mayor of Oshawa in 1967, no-one benefits more from a well-respected family name than the City councillor from Ward 3. A lawyer with the firm of Marks & Pellegrino, he carries weight in the council chamber as one who understands all manner of administrative procedures when taking care of the City’s business. He appears to enjoy contributing to the community in many respects, including his involvement in Oshawa youth hockey, baseball, and different charitable institutions such as Durham Outlook for the Needy. He does tend to say little during council debates, and lacks any significant sign of what one might describe as political passion, often being seen as overly concerned with procedure at the expense of vision. The weeks and months ahead will undoubtedly give ample rise to further speculation, more photo-ops, and an unending dialogue on the part of those seeking to become Oshawa’s next mayor. There is more to come on this topic.