What to expect of the Saskatoon civic election with Mayor Charlie Clark out of the running
Pundits say homelessness, affordability among potential issues
With Mayor Charlie Clark saying he won't run again, Saskatoon will have new leadership after the civic election in November — but who will it be and what will they focus on?
Former city councillor and local pundit Lenore Swystun said although Clark only just announced he won't be running again, the election has already started.
"What I mean by that is a lot of prognostications and rumours … about who's running, who's not running," Swystun said.
Clark announced his plan not to seek re-election during a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday.
"I didn't run for city council in 2006 to make this a career, and I do believe I have other chapters in my life," Clark said.
He is the first mayor to announce he will voluntarily leave, rather than be unseated during an election, since Cliff Wright did so in 1988.
"I look at it as a fresh opportunity to get some new leadership," said Derek Eisner, a professor who teaches local government and policy at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon.
What will be the key issues?
Eisner said he expects the next election, like other municipal elections, will focus on police, roadways and other infrastructure.
However, he said residents will consider electing a mayor who can address issues of homelessness, affordability and addictions.
Managing those issues often draws or benefits from provincial funding and resources. Eisner said a mayor who has a good rapport with the Saskatchewan government could benefit the city for that reason.
Eisner said the city could also benefit from a mayor who is knowledgeable, experienced and has good relationships with other agencies like the federal government and Indigenous organizations.
Swystun agreed that affordability and homelessness will likely be election issues but added that the future of Saskatoon's arena and entertainment district could be among the questions asked of candidates.
Swystun said a mayoral race without an incumbent opens the field up to candidates, but said she suspects the current political environment might deter people from entering the campaign.
"Being a politician isn't seen as a glamorous job, in a sense. You're walking into something that's not an easy thing to be because the hits are coming at you," she said.
The campaign period begins June 1. Candidates can submit nomination papers from late September until late afternoon on Oct. 9, about a month ahead of election day on Nov. 13.
Which councillors are running?
CBC has reached out to all 10 Saskatoon city council members, plus a handful of people from previous elections or people rumoured to be vying for Clark's role.
So far, none of the 10 sitting city councillors has officially announced an intention to run for mayor, although Swystun said that not having to compete against an incumbent could lead to councillors stepping forward.
Some, like Ward 4 Coun. Troy Davies and Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer, are firm they will not be running for mayor. Both said they will be running again for their council seats.
Ward 2 Coun. Hilary Gough, Ward 7 Coun. Mairin Loewen and Ward 8 Coun. Sarina Gersher said they are not planning to run for mayor.
Others, like Ward 3 Coun. David Kirton and Ward 6 Coun. Cynthia Block, are either undecided or aren't showing their hands.
"I have not made any decisions at this time," Block said in an email response.
"I am being asked to run for mayor and I am truly humbled by that, but right now I am focused on representing the residents of Ward 6."
She specified that people in the community had been asking her to run for mayor.
CBC did not receive a response from Ward 1 Coun. Darren Hill, Ward 9 Coun. Bev Dubois or Ward 10 Coun. Zach Jeffries.
CBC also contacted Saskatoon's longest-serving mayor Don Atchison, who wouldn't rule out an attempt at another term in office, but said he wouldn't make the call for a few months if he did.
Mark Zielke, a mayoral candidate in the 2020 race, said he would be running again for election in 2024.
He placed, as he put it, "resoundingly last" in the polls. He said the biggest issues in Saskatoon are taxes "being raised to exorbitant levels."
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