Kevin Klein expected to run for Winnipeg mayor, pushing candidate pool to 13
The number of mayoral candidates is expected to climb to 13 as a current councillor said he will throw his name into the mix.
Coun. Kevin Klein, (Charleswood – Tuxedo - Westwood) told CTV News that he plans to run in the upcoming mayoral election.
This comes after a Probe Research poll – which surveyed 622 adults - showed former mayor Glen Murray has 44 per cent support.
This is followed by Coun. Scott Gillingham at 16 per cent and former Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette at 13 per cent, both candidates are within the margin of error of the poll.
The poll also looked at potential candidates, such as Klein, and how much support they would receive.
It found that 36 per cent of decided voters would consider Klein for mayor.
"When I saw that, I was touched personally. But it energized me, I'll tell you that, to say Winnipeg wants change," said Klein.
Political science professor at the U of M Royce Koop said Klein could make the race even more interesting.
"It's hard to say how he'll affect the race at this point, but he's potentially an important candidate," said Koop.
He noted Murray is leading the way right now likely due to his name recognition but expects things to tighten up as the city gets closer to election day.
"We'll see more media coverage, we'll see more announcements from the candidates, we'll see more scrutiny."
Despite it being early on, Murray says he's encouraged by the numbers.
"I think we're doing well. Winnipeggers, God bless them, are being very supportive in large but you always have to look at next week," said Murray.
Both Gillingham and Ouellette know there is still plenty of race left.
"We're only halfway through the campaign, there's still over 90 days left before election day. It's the middle of summer, I'm not concerned," said Gillingham.
"As we start thinking about September, that's when the campaign really starts if you want to be honest, when people are going to start thinking about their real honest choices," said Ouellette.
The Probe Research conducted the survey online between July 14 and 15. Due to it being an online survey, Probe said no margin of error can be assigned, but noted a random and representative non-convenience sample of 622 adults would have a margin of error of ±4.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Bob Cole, veteran CBC broadcaster and former voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada,' dead at 90
Bob Cole, legendary CBC broadcaster and former voice of Hockey Night in Canada, has died. He was 90.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.