Winnipeg Coun. Scott Gillingham 'very likely' to run for mayor this fall

Coun. Scott Gillingham says he will "very likely" run in the wide-open race to succeed Brian Bowman as Winnipeg's mayor this fall — and two of his council colleagues say they're thinking about it.

Gillingham, who has served as the councillor for St. James for seven years and as city council's finance chair for the past five, says several people have asked him to run and have pledged their support.

"It is very likely the voters will see me as a candidate for mayor of Winnipeg," Gillingham said Thursday in an interview. "After seven years on council I've seen a number of opportunities to make city hall work better for Winnipeggers."

Since his initial election in 2014, Gillingham has been a close ally for Bowman, who announced in 2020 he would not seek a third term as mayor this year.

Gillingham, a former pastor at Grace Community Church in Charleswood, served as Winnipeg Police Board chair before Bowman appointed him to council's executive policy committee and named him finance chair.

Gillingham said his knowledge of city hall positions him to hit the ground running as mayor.

"I think experience really does matter, and I think it will be an advantage as the city emerges from the pandemic," he said.

"We need to be strategic about recovery — about business recovery, development, job growth and restoring transit ridership, just to name a few things."

There is only one declared candidate in the race for mayor, which culminates in October's municipal election. Social-enterprise activist Shaun Loney declared his intention to run last April.

Mayoral candidates typically do not declare their candidacy until they register their campaigns, something they cannot do until May 1.

Registration allows candidates to raise, and spend, money for their campaigns.

Declaring prior to registration places candidates at risk of running afoul of campaign spending rules, especially if they are already in office. Sitting city councillors use public funds to pay for services such as internet access and mobile phones.

Nonetheless, two other city councillors are also considering runs for mayor.

Coun. Markus Chambers, who is serving his first term as the representative for St. Norbert-Seine River, said he remains "very much interested" and is having conversations about a mayoral run.