A former justice minister is considering a run for mayor as speculation surrounding Saskatoon's 2012 civic election begins to build nine months before the vote is called.
"If I decide that I'm going to do something, I'll decide within the next month or two," said former NDP cabinet minister Frank Quennell, who was defeated in Saskatoon-Meewasin in last year's provincial election after serving eight years.
Mr. Quennell said he's considering a run for the mayor's chair or a seat on city council and says he has been approached by a number of backers to consider municipal politics. The election is on October 24, 2012.
"I haven't ruled anything out," Mr. Quennell said in a brief interview recently. "I've talked to a lot of people on the doorstep and you hear a lot about people's concerns about municipal issues. It's had me thinking about what can be done differently and better."
Mr. Quennell joins a growing list of potential candidates. Retired NDP stalwart Pat Atkinson, twice-defeated mayoral candidate Lenore Swystun and former mayor Henry Dayday, who was defeated after 12 years in office in 2000, continue to weigh the possibility. Mr. Dayday has been building support for a potential campaign focused around improving core services such as road maintenance and has questioned city financing in opinion pieces and letters to council since last year.
Mayor Don Atchison was elected for a third term in November 2009 with 58% of the vote, while runner-up Lenore Swystun took 38%. If re-elected for a fourth term, Mr. Atchison would be in line to break Mr. Dayday and Cliff Wright's record as longest-serving mayor in Saskatoon's history because of a legislative move to four-year terms.
Councillor Darren Hill said he will run in the election, but declined to say if he was running for mayor or to retain his Ward 1 council seat. Mr. Hill was defeated running for the Liberals in Saskatoon-Humboldt in last year's last federal election, finishing in third with eight per cent of the vote.
"I'm running for Saskatoon city council," he said. "All I'm saying is I'm running."
Mr. Hill said that the opposition to those seeking re-election will come from people pushing a back-to-basics platform with the Mendel Art Gallery move and opposition to the $84-million Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan coming to the fore again.
"The community is more than just pot holes and garbage and snow removal, all of which we've improved. You have to have an arts and culture program," Mr. Hill said.
A number of incumbent councillors have indicated they will seek re-election, including Tiffany Paulsen, Randy Donauer, Ann Iwanchuk, Mairin Loewen, Pat Lorje and Bev Dubois. Mr. Atchison said in his year-end interview in December he would seek-re-election.
Councillor Charlie Clark said that he is still weighing his options, as is Councillor Myles Heidt, who would face off again against Sean Shaw in what was the closest ward race in the 2009 civic election.
"I'll know by Easter," Mr. Heidt said.
At least four candidates are lining up in Ward 8, where Councillor Glen Penner is considering retirement, and 10 candidates have confirmed to The StarPhoenix they are running in ward races.
The high level of interest this early could reverse a trend toward declining participation evident in the last municipal elections. In total, 28 candidates ran in 2009 and three councillors were acclaimed. By comparison, 75 people ran in the 1988 election, 67 in 1994, a record-low 27 in 1997, 32 in 2000, 44 in 2003 and 32 in 2006.
Mr. Penner would retire as the second-longest serving councillor in Saskatoon's history, roughly 50 days shy of John Cairns' record 26 years. He said the iron-man streak has no bearing on his decision.
"I feel as though I need to make a final decision within the next month or so," Mr. Penner said. "But I have not yet made a final decision. (The longest-serving councillor record) would be the last reason why a person should seek re-election. A person's health and enthusiasm, whether you still feel the way you can represent the citizens."
Mr. Quennell, a lawyer, would not yet comment on what his platform could centre around.
"I don't want to start a debate I'm not willing to finish," he said.
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