EDMONTON – During a speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning, Mayor Stephen Mandel revealed he hasn’t made up his mind on whether he will be running for re-election in the city’s next municipal election.
Edmonton’s mayor looked emotional as he took the stage Tuesday amid great expectations that he would announce whether he’d seek re-election.
There was an audible gasp in the crowd when he announced he hadn’t yet made up his mind.
Mandel cited “key issues” that are “generally unsettled” as the reason he’s decided to hold off on making a decision.
Mandel specifically pointed out his concerns with the provincial budget and its impact on post-secondary education.
“No budget woes, no matter how significant, can justify this,” said Mandel Tuesday.
Mandel added that the current political climate has him worried for Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.
“I encourage our provincial leaders… not to shackle the expectations of our most creative thinkers.”
“We need to train our young people to dream of more than a punch card,” he said.
In his State of the City address, Mandel touched on issues like health care, education, LRT development – which he stressed requires long-term investment, the downtown Edmonton arena, agriculture, homelessness and business.
“Real leadership is taking the long-term view… setting a course people can believe in,” Mandel said, adding “real leadership… does not subscribe to ‘good enough.’”
Mandel said leadership means bigger goals and meaningful change.
“Today my focus remains on the job at hand.. and what Edmonton needs.”
More to come…
View the Mayor’s speech below:
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