How Clive Doucet could change Ottawa’s lacklustre mayoralty race
In the 2010 mayoral race, Clive Doucet was described in the Citizen as having run “arguably the most passionate visionary campaign.” Alas, his campaign of ideas was not enough. It captured the imagination but not votes.
He lost because people don’t necessarily vote for the candidate with the best ideas or best plan. They often vote for the candidate they are most comfortable with, and Jim Watson ended up winning, ahead of incumbent Larry O’Brien and Doucet.
But out of the blue eight years later, Doucet is back. He is answering the call once again, but this time, it seems, not out of a burning desire or conviction that he is the best man for mayor.
“If there had been a great candidate to run against Mr. Watson, I would not be standing here,” he told the Citizen. “But it is very clear that unless I run, there will be no debate.”
The city should appreciate Doucet jumping into the race.
Months before the campaign began, many had been clamouring for a credible candidate to challenge Watson. That push was not out of a desire to defeat Watson. All said, Watson has kept the city on an even keel and hardly anyone would consider his re-election a setback.
The point about wanting a challenger is that for the past eight years, discussion in the city has centred on what Watson thinks or says. Councillors are so weak, there is no alternative vision out there.
The course Watson has set for the city may well be the right one, but we need to test it against other ideas and directions.
We need to debate alternatives, we need to challenge ourselves, and this is where Doucet may be invaluable. He has more credibility and know-how than all of Watson’s other challengers and his entry will make it something of a two-man race instead of a coronation.
As he showed in 2010, Doucet is not a man lacking in ideas or strong views. Had he won the last time he ran, his Ottawa might well have been much different from what we see today: LRT along Carling Avenue and no downtown tunnel; affordable housing for all; and massive funding for the arts and festivals, fuelling an Ottawa cultural renaissance. But this campaign is different, as is his role. And he’ll need to recalibrate his message.
The city is not so disillusioned with Watson that it wants somebody, anybody. I doubt people are looking to remake the city like they did Ontario during the recent provincial election.
It looks like people are generally happy with the status quo but want someone bold enough to challenge established wisdom on the important issues facing the city, and help define new possibilities. There is no dearth of issues for debate. Should we maintain Watson’s two-per-cent cap on property tax increases, or raise it? And how will our finances be impacted by lost revenue from the cancellation of cap-and-trade?
Why is OC Transpo losing riders, and is lack of financial support a factor? How good is our garbage and recycling policy? City roads are becoming not just an eyesore but dangerous: Are we putting enough money into maintenance?
Many in the city are becoming antsy over the city’s push for skyscrapers, but are tall buildings the answer to urban sprawl? Many questions but few answers.
Here’s another question to ponder: Is Doucet in it to win or just stir the pot? And could he win? Possibly, but unlikely. Watson is not easy to defeat even at the best of times, and worse for Doucet, he is getting in late. He must raise funds and build a campaign infrastructure, all in four months.
Winning seems like Mission Impossible, for Doucet is no Tom Cruise. But who knows? We don’t yet know what Doucet’s agenda and expectations are, or how he is going to frame the election. But if he can help us put the issues on the front-burner, he’ll have done the city a great favour.
Friday: What’s Clive Doucet’s game plan?
If there had been a great candidate to run against Mr. Watson, I would not be standing here.