Hamilton votes: McHattie gets support from 4 councillors
Four councillors have put their support for Brian McHattie in writing, which the mayoral candidate says is proof that he’s the best one to work with council.
Downtown councillor Jason Farr, former mayor Bob Morrow and Mountain councillors Terry Whitehead and Scott Duvall offered up statements of support for McHattie, who’s running for mayor against fellow councillor Brad Clark and former mayor Eisenberger.
He didn’t ask them for endorsements. That's become an important distinction in the campaign, as candidates have argued the difference between "support" and "endorsement." And at least one of McHattie's "supporters" — former mayor Bob Morrow—says he's voting for Eisenberger.
There’s a huge trust issue with the other councillors and Mr. Clarke.- Brian McHattie
But McHattie said the kudos are proof that he’ll do better than the “Machiavellian” Clark, who frequently butts heads with other councillors, and Eisenberger, who often failed to get council to work together.
Clark is “a Machiavellian fellow where you’re never quite sure if he’s trying to move an issue ahead or whether it’s something deeper,” McHattie said.
“There’s a huge trust issue with the other councillors and Mr. Clark.”
When Eisenberger was mayor, he said, council saw a lot of narrowly split votes, and a lot of “council going off in different directions.”
In McHattie's media release, Ward 2 councillor Farr cited the Ward 1 councillor's willingness to share his expertise as a professional planner, particularly on issues such as the McMaster University downtown health campus.
Duvall, of Ward 7, said that McHattie “walks the talk. I know he respects my labour history and my stances on social justice.”
McHattie “has always made an effort to work with your councillor colleagues regardless of their positions,” wrote Whitehead, who represents Ward 8. “You make an excellent candidate for mayor.”
Morrow is a thornier issue. Last weekend, he said he'd be voting for Eisenberger. Eisenberger's campaign called it an endorsement, which McHattie's campaign charged was erroneously ascribing the word to Morrow's comments, implying a firmer preference for one candidate than Morrow intended.
Morrow shied away from using the word "endorsement" himself, preferring to call it support. The word difference is a "personal preference," Morrow said then.
For politicians, the "E" word is an important distinction, McHattie said.
"For us, endorsement is an official all-encompassing approval," McHattie said. "Endorsement is suggesting to all your friends and supporters that you should vote for them."
Morrow called McHattie “one of the most decent people I have known in public service.”
Former mayor Larry Di Ianni has endorsed Eisenberger.
Clark dismissed the notion that he's Machiavellian and doesn't get along with other councillors.
"I don’t agree with Brian," said Clark, who has been endorsed by retiring Dundas councillor Russ Powers. "Brian is entitled to his opinion. We all know that he’s campaigning, and we’ll just leave it at that."
Clark cited a recent partnership with Scott Park that would allow the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board enough space to build a high school there as a deal he helped broker by working with other councillors.
"There is a difference between being a councillor and fighting for your ward and being the mayor and fighting for the entire city," he said. "That's what the mayor's role is."
Whitehead wrote his letter of support when McHattie held his campaign launch in January. Neither Eisenberger nor Clark had entered the race then, Whitehead said.
"Really, it's true in regards to how Brian is good to work with," Whitehead said. "If he wants to use it to contrast being able to work with councillors, that's fine."
Whitehead wouldn't comment on Eisenberger or Clark though, and he's not endorsing anyone.
"I'm not about to get mixed up in that at all," he said. "I don't want to be further entrenched in the mayoralty race at this time."
Still, McHattie said the council support sets him apart. Clark has “a very negative relationship with most of the councillors,” he said.
“He’s berated all of us at different times over the last eight years, and lectured to us, and explained to us how he knows better and we’re not very smart. This has not come across well with councillors.”
If elected, McHattie said, he wants to meet with each of the 15 ward councillors about their priorities for their wards.
CBC Hamilton is seeking comment from Eisenberger.
Hamilton's mayoral race includes Michael Baldasaro, Ejaz Butt, Mike Clancy, Warrand Francis, Nick Iamonico, Crystal Lavigne, Michael Pattison, Phil Ryerson and Ricky Tavares.