Former Edmonton councillor Kim Krushell running for mayor in fall election

Former Edmonton city councillor Kim Krushell has announced she is running for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

Krushell made the announcement outside city hall on Wednesday morning.

“I am running to be your next mayor,” she said. “I made this decision to return to politics because first and foremost, I care deeply about Edmonton, our residents and our collective future.

“I think most people that remember me from when I was on council and when I was in politics know that that care is genuine. And that is why I’m running.”

Krushell is a familiar face to Edmontonians, having served as a councillor in Ward 2 for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2013.

“My vision for our city is rooted in the recognition of our vast potential and I have the passion, the knowhow and the drive to move our city forward,” she said during her announcement.

In 2013, she announced she was taking a break from municipal politics for family reasons.

Krushell said Wednesday the decision to return to politics also has to do with the fact the city is struggling right now.

“I’ve had friends who have lost their businesses and I started thinking about some of the challenges that we’re facing and realized that I believe I am the right leader for now,” she said.

Krushell touted her work on a number of issues while on council, including the 2010 closure of the City Centre Airport, the creation of the U-Pass and neighbourhood renewal.

“I’ve had 18 years of being both at city hall working, helping constituents in the southwest. And then of course I also have the experience of having been a city councillor for nine years where I took on a lot of initiatives and I think that that experience — along with my business experience of understanding just how nimble and how tough it is to do a tech startup and actually make a living — I think that that experience will help me have the skillset that we need to bring city council together and to bring all levels of government together to help us through what’s a really tough time.”

Edmonton will have a new mayor this October, after current Mayor Don Iveson announced last November he would not seek re-election.

2:12 Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson will not seek re-election in 2021

So far, two others have thrown their hat into the mayoral race, including current city councillor Mike Nickel and businesswoman Cheryll Watson.

In November, councillor Andrew Knack said he was “still considering it,” but hasn’t officially announced an intention.

Krushell said she will spend the upcoming months “focused on listening to our residents and engaging with them, with community, with business leaders, with our city employees and listening to people from all sectors and backgrounds so that I can present you with an informed and thoughtful plan that will move our city forward on three main fronts: economic recovery and innovation, core services and maintenance and support for those most vulnerable.”

The nomination period for those interesting in running for council, mayor or school board trustee is now open.

Aspiring candidates have until Sept. 20, 2021, to file their nomination papers and pay the deposit. Candidates for mayor must pay a deposit of $500. Candidates for councillor and school board trustee must pay a deposit of $100.

Edmonton’s municipal election will be held on Monday, Oct. 18.