Mayor, councillors likely to seek re-election

The 2020 Saskatoon mayor’s race lies too far in the future for the 2016 contenders to say whether they plan to run again.

Mayor Charlie Clark, who won the lively three-way race two years ago, suggested in an interview this month that he’s likely to run for re-election, but has made no final decision.

Former mayor Don Atchison said he’s focused on his work with Canwest Commercial and Land Corp., which is planning the World Trade Center project in downtown Saskatoon.

Kelley Moore, who finished third, said she has not thought much about it.

“Though I receive encouragement from time to time to put my hat in the ring in 2020, I have not yet given it too much consideration,” Moore said in a text message on Tuesday. “Lots can happen between now and then.”

Clark said he does not think he will leave after one term, noting that many of the issues that need to be solved are complex.

“There’s no way I’m in a firm position to get into talking about the next campaign and all those things,” Clark said.

Atchison, the city’s longestserving mayor before his defeat, replied “nothing ” when asked to comment on whether he’s considering another run.

“I’m working World Trade Center right now,” Atchison said. “I’ve got my hands full.”

Atchison said he’s following the example of former Saskatoon mayor Cliff Wright and keeping his opinions to himself.

Nine of the 10 city councillors elected in 2016 say they intend to run for re-election in 2020 or are leaning that way. Coun. Darren Hill did not respond to questions from The Starphoenix.

All but one of the nine councillors who replied said they do not intend to run for mayor in 2020.

“You never know what tomorrow might bring,” Coun. Bev Dubois said in an email on a possible 2020 mayoral run.

Dubois, who was defeated in the 2012 election, had said she might run for mayor in the 2016 election before opting to run to represent Ward 9.

Veteran Coun. Zach Jeffries said he will make a decision on seeking re-election to represent Ward 10 with his family closer to voting day. “Tentatively, yes,” Jeffries said in an email.

“I’m open to it,” Ward 2 Coun. Hilary Gough said about a re-election bid.

The provincial Saskatchewan Party government has said it is considering moving the 2020 municipal election to 2021 to avoid an overlap with the next provincial election campaign.

The nine responding councillors and the mayor said an unprecedented five-year council term would not change their re-election plans.

Clark has urged the province to leave the municipal election date alone and move the provincial election campaign.