Here’s my latest election news roundup:
- Pretty shocking news last Friday when Councillor Linda Sloan changed her mind and decided not to seek re-election in Ward 1. She has been on Council since 2007. Her departure leaves Andrew Knack as the frontrunner. Barely an hour after the news broke, Sharon Maclise switched her candidacy from Ward 6 to Ward 1. Let’s hope no other candidates try to top that opportunistic and self-serving move. Here is Paul Simons’ column on Linda Sloan.
- Dave’s list of declared candidates was updated yesterday. Still no challengers in Wards 4, 8, 9, or 12. Arif Khan has dropped out of the race in Ward 5, while Nathan Ip is a new candidate in Ward H for Public School Board Trustee.
- This is really great news for vulnerable Edmontonians: the City is adding a polling station to the Boyle Street Community Centre, allowing staff to vouch for individuals who don’t have ID but who still want to vote.
- While Mayor Mandel’s busy schedule hasn’t changed much (he’s still very much the mayor, active around town at dozens of events) he has become a little more openly critical of City Administration. On Wednesday, he called the transportation department a “dictator”.
- Here’s a profile of Ward 11 candidate Harvey Panesar. Asked about what Edmonton should look like in a decade, he said Calgary: “we have to have that vibrancy that Calgary has.”
- ActivatED has decided against endorsing a candidate in Ward 10. They have endorsed Heather MacKenzie in Ward 6, and Max Merrett in Ward 11.
- Here are some additional candidate profiles from Ryan Hastman: Mike Nickel in Ward 11, Hafis Devji in Ward 10, David Dodge in Ward 3, and Mimi Williams in Ward 7.
- The Local Good has received more questionnaire responses! Read answers from Jason Millar in Ward 2, David Dodge in Ward 3, Rob Hennigar in Ward 5, Michael Oshry in Ward 5, and Derrick Forsythe in Ward 6.
- Terence Harding says “civic politics in Edmonton aren’t transparent” and encourages you to tweet questions to candidates.
- Will everyone on Council continue working until October 21? It’s business as usual, they say.
- Thinking about hosting an election forum in your ward? EFCL wants to help.
- Ward 6 candidate Scott McKeen doesn’t have a campaign office, he has a campaign gallery.
- Ward 5 candidate Dan St. Pierre has posted about why he’s running for Council.
- Ward 7 candidate Dave Colburn is running a survey on campaign finances.
- From Ward 10 candidate Zack Siezmagraff: I Don’t Have All The Answers (and neither does anyone else).
- Head over to City Hall on Tuesday for a spin class with Councillors Don Iveson and Amarjeet Sohi!
- Kerry Diotte is hosting a tweetup tonight at O’Byrne’s Pub on Whute Avenue.
- Don Iveson was recently at the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Shapers conference, sharing Edmonton’s story. He’s also got a public event tonight with an open house at Duchess.
- Karen Leibovici says Edmonton is a national leader in reducing light pollution.
- Both Karen and Don have written about the Rossdale Power Plant recently.
- I’m currently building an “election command centre” in my home office, but I’m not the only one redecorating before October 21!
How does a #yegvote geek decorate her home? Well, maybe like this. New addition to the photo wall. pic.twitter.com/lDiS5P62GW
— Julie Rohr (@JulieRohrYEG) August 20, 2013
You can follow Edmonton Election news on Twitter using the hashtag #yegvote and you can see my coverage here.
What have I missed? Let me know!
Disclosure: I’m actively volunteering for Don Iveson’s mayoral campaign.
MasterMaq's Blog 
Thanks so much for including the Local Good’s candidate questionnaire responses, Mack! We have 3 late-Friday-afternoon additions (clustered because I was away): Andrew Knack, Dexx Williams, and Bryan Anderson.