Child Poverty Summary Data Source: Nancy King, Cape Breton Post

A CBRM election is happening this year. You can bet you'll see mayor and council in lots of hard hat photos wherever any construction is ongoing, letting you know they're responsible for it. The political species has evolved with some behaviours hardcoded into their DNA. However, with the poverty statistics released this week, it's time for you to look beyond what they want you to see. It's time we start thinking about the type of leaders that won't act surprised every year we're presented with such dreadful child poverty numbers - over and over again - and then do nothing about it for the rest of the year, hoping we don't notice or will forgive them for making no progress (and sometimes no attempts).

Scroll to the bottom and cheat to see who I've declared the #1 candidate if you prefer. The ranking is from the lowest chance (top) to the highest chance (bottom).

There are about half a dozen new people added to the list.

Let's admit something: Mayor Clarke deserves recognition for ever having been elected in the first place, let alone doing it twice. While we suffer from some of the highest home and commercial property tax rates in the country, the majority of us who vote elected a man who actively opposed us getting increased funding from the province during his time as a provincial MLA and MP - long before he ever asked for our support to make him our mayor.

Just as it is now with Derek Mombourquette and Geoff MacLellan, there's something in the water in the capital city that makes them all firmly agree that the CBRM shouldn't get any more once they arrive.

With our transfer of funding frozen for many years, the provincial government continues to charge us more for the provincial services delivered here, creating a bigger gap each year. It's the motivation behind the CBRM CAO Marie Walsh scrambling now to break the tax cap, asap.

Spoiler alert: It's not going to be a net neutral change when the tax cap breaks. They're desperate to increase the total taxes that they can pull from us. Unfortunately, we don't have much left to have taken from us. Granted, for those that see an increase, they may not care much about the impact across the entire community. They've been overpaying for a long time, some struggling to keep their homes, and they need a break. It's like the difficult choice of saving your family member or someone else's when each person is drowning at the same time on opposite sides of the lake. You're driving the boat. What do you do?

Though Mayor Clarke would hope we can forget about it, the fact remains that he spent the better part of a year telling us that he was not going to be mayor again, that he was running for the PC leadership of Nova Scotia. He ultimately lost overwhelmingly to Tim Houston, being forced to concede before promptly exiting the building at the convention and refusing to join all candidates on the stage to acknowledge the new leader together.

But during that campaign, something incredibly revealing happened. In fact, it was appalling. Houston marched right into the CBRM for a debate and promptly pledged $15 Million more for the CBRM in a transfer fee (if elected). And then what?

Cecil Clarke, our very own mayor, right here in this municipality that is desperately struggling for resources, responded that Houston was irresponsible for making the offer. His suggested alternative was to cancel Equalization and make more requests to the province for funding instead. That quickly resulted in Councillor MacMullin calling it out in social media soon after with agreement from fellow progressive councillors McDougall and Coombes. Do you ever get the sense that we have a mayor who's really not our biggest advocate?

This ranking is to get us thinking. We lose what little attention we have in politics under the blue skies of our much-awaited and short-lived Cape Breton summers. Who can blame us? But when the Fall arrives, we'll have little time to start organizing to get new mayoral candidates into the on-deck circle. We have to start talking about it now while there's snow on the ground, and it's cold outside, and the sun goes down early every night.

Debate the list. Endorse a candidacy. Let someone know they should be on it. Let someone know they'd have your support. Whoever, you ultimately support, please make that decision with a sincere belief that they would be both committed and effective in doing something for our community. There's nobody out there worthy of getting the job just because they're familiar to you or you think they are decent people. That's not enough of a qualification to becoming mayor over a municipality trying to secure its very existence. Your mechanic is probably a good person, but you're not going to let him remove your gallstones. You're absolutely going to insist that the person wielding the scalpel is qualified to do the job before the first incision begins.

This is the sixth installment of my subjective ranking. Here are the links to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5

Inclusion on the list does not represent an endorsement nor enthusiasm from me - in my role as an active CBRM political blogger - unless otherwise indicated. However, for the first five parts, I've come to expect that a few of you will set out to knock me down a peg or two. And, if that's how you feel, you should do so. I don't need you to agree with me, but I certainly need you thinking critically (or at least thoughtfully) about this important choice.

Remember, the choice isn't just who to mark on the ballot. Many will need your encouragement to help them choose to be on the ballot or to put together a campaign that can overcome the type of candidates that arrive with buckets of money and partisan backers reading for their marching orders. It's tough to make and declare that decision. Even local leaders need a nudge now and then.

If you suspect bias in the ranking, you're absolutely right. There's nobody among us who is immune to it. The folks I like may get a nudge towards the bottom (higher ranking), and the folks I don't like may get a little extra nudge towards the top (lower ranking). But there are lots of folks ranked highly who I don't support for mayor. In fact, some I don't even like very much. Likewise, there are people I like and think could do a good job that are nonetheless ranked very poorly. While subjective, I've made an effort to push back against my own bias. I'm just not going to suggest it isn't there. The list would be very short if it represented only my preferences, although the top spot would probably remain the same.

If you think I've omitted someone who could be a great mayor, please comment. That's a key objective in this exercise. If we're dissatisfied with how we are performing as a municipality, or with our current leadership, then we need to proactively think about what comes next for us.

Some change notes indicated in highlight. Most of the text is carried forward from previous versions of the ranking.

The CBRM Mayoral Candidate Ranking - January 2020
Last place at the top of the list. First place at bottom of the list.

• Esmond "Blue" Marshall - Contributes to CBRM council session debate too infrequently.
• George MacDonald - Expected to not reoffer for Council. Unlikely to pursue a greater role.
• Ivan Doncaster - A well-respected, wonderful community man. However, nearing the end of his Council career, lobbying for the Deputy Mayor role was a selfish act that deprived younger councillors of an opportunity to gain experience for the long careers ahead of them. He's likely to retire from Council now.
• Vince Hall - A controversial former councillor who has contemplated the role. He's gone quiet recently.
• Clarence Prince - Likely to retire from Council.
• Jim MacLeod - MacLeod is gruff but passionate. Beating up on small businesses using cheap, but ugly advertising scores him a nudge upward in the rankings, if only for actually doing something (regardless of the merit or the lack thereof). Likely to retire from Council.
• Dan Yakimchuk - Yakimchuk is a local satirist who insists that he should be included in the mayoral ranking. And though the list is no doubt highly subjective, it's not a satirical exercise. However, there is an objective consistent with satirical writings as much as musings on mayoral candidates: it gets people thinking. In that regard, Dan makes my list this time, not so much by request, but because of something I once observed him do. In what probably led to a puzzling performance from the comedy lens, Yakimchuk interjected his own local standup comedy routine at a Sydney venue to talk about child poverty. While he's not serious about a mayoral run, he has a key factor that our next mayor needs to have: a heartfelt, empathetic connection to those in need in our community. And for that, Dr. StrangeJob joins our list of hopefuls. Due to his satirical approach to entry, for the time being, his ranking will take that heavily into consideration - but he's certainly not last on the list. NEW
• Neeta Kumar - A strong personality with political connections, and proactive advocacy for the new CBRM library project.
• Manning MacDonald ---
• Kenzie MacNeil - Running for the first time as an independent in Sydney Victoria, MacNeil didn't have the party campaign infrastructure in place, and the phenomenon of Archie MacKinnon overshadowed him. Despite this, he may have been the most contemplative candidate with the deepest political knowledge and ties. While a mayoral role could suit him, getting overlooked in the MP bid in the last election pushes him to the back of the pack. NEW
• Monica Dutt --- A former NDP candidate for MP in Sydney Victoria, and a medical doctor recently returned to Cape Breton. NEW
• Steve Gillespie --- Gillespie leaves many longing for the guy who campaigned for a council position. He was never heard from again after the election.
• Paul Carrigan --- 
• Mark McNeill - A former political candidate and academic with deep historical knowledge of Cape Breton's political history who has taken on a leadership role in a group committed to seeking autonomy and exploring options for provincial or territorial status for Cape Breton. NEW
• Lynne McCarron - United Way NEW
• Stephen Tobin - A former Progressive Conservative candidate for MLA for Cape Breton South, and currently involved in communications and campaign strategy for provincial Liberals. Tobin is very sharp, very strategic, and very politically astute. Working as a concert promoter, in 2010 he was successful in his bid to bring rap music star Snoop Dog to the Sydney Waterfront with backing from ACOA. He's versatile and has friends in the right places to mount a political comeback campaign if he ever decides to take on the challenge again. NEW
• Madonna Doucette - Although she has an opportunity to beat MLA Derek Mombourquette, her inactive voice in public matters reduces her profile. She has the ability to be a voice for those who struggle in the CBRM, but is flying under the radar.
• Eileen Lannon Olford - With the abolishment of Business Cape Breton, she's available as an established local executive, with political connections, who could seek other opportunities via her strong network.
• David Delaney - One of the CBRM's fiercest critics, his critiques are frequent on the pages of the Cape Breton Post. You can never count out anyone who shows a high level of interest in the issues, and a persistent desire to weigh in. Frustration sometimes puts names on the ballot.
• Michelle Dockrill - A former Cape Breton MP, her independent campaign for Cape Breton Canso didn't pick up enough support. A return to politics may be unlikely, but there's no doubt that her passion for fighting for Cape Breton was reignited during her campaign. She had more fire in her belly than the rest, but she was up against the partisan system and partisan zombies that believe political choice is as unchanging as their blood types. NEW
• Cyril MacDonald - MacDonald doesn't keep a high profile, but he's unique among all other candidates on the ranking list. His amazing work with Special Olympics, his healthy lifestyle, and pleasant demeanour would provide us with an opportunity to have a mayor it would be difficult to dislike. Although a former council candidate, he's a wildcard on what his policy direction and platform might be.
• Eldon MacDonald - A former standout, his moments of tough talk at Council don't seem to translate to action or results outside of the room. He's been overshadowed by the success of new councillors McDougall, MacMullin, and Coombes.
• Michelle Wilson --- Charismatic and positive, but presently focused solely on Sydney. The CBRM doesn't know enough about her at present, but she could potentially do well by demonstrating a sincere intent towards promoting new business opportunities and helping our community grow.
• Josephine Kennedy - As a Liberal MLA candidate, she jumped ship, but has remained vocal and active in community and CBRM issues. She's recently shown renewed interest and support in Federal Liberals.
• Marlene Usher - Despite the prominence of the port of Sydney in CBRM political and economic discussions, Usher remains largely in the background with the CBRM more often held in the public eye. The ability to stay in the background, in addition to the immense income the Port CEO role offers, it's unlikely she'd consider the more challenging role as mayor. If she was to become mayor, her sister CAO Marie Walsh would be her chief of staff.
• Gordon MacDonald - A former CBRM Council candidate and one of the leading organizers and most vocal advocates for Capers 4 Healthcare. There's a chance he could contemplate how a mayoral win would elevate the concerns of his community and his advocacy group, even if believes there is a path to victory. NEW
• Ray Paruch - The CBRM's finest devil's advocate. Without Paruch, many issues of concern would never capture the attention of the media or the general public. He appears to not be "kind enough" to overlook things that others would turn a blind eye to. Councillor Paruch is currently on indefinite medical leave from his Council role.
• Owen Fitzgerald - A former mayoral candidate who dropped out and endorsed Clarke. His thoughts about the role may stir again.
• Mary Tulle - She's moved on from her role as Destination Cape Breton CEO, but suggested it does not represent a retirement. With her network, she could build support for her candidacy.
• Darren Bruckschwaiger - A very popular councillor in his district, and probably not recognized as much as he should be for his intelligence. He must control his propensity to be too reactive to criticism, but is otherwise very in tune with how to communicate with regular, everyday people. However, his comments before the CBRM council regarding his salary were very poorly received with the public. The salary raising issue (done in-camera) was one of the CBRM's most controversial actions in the past 3 years.
• Rick McCready - One of the CBRM's top planners. It would be difficult to match his knowledge of the CBRM's interworkings. It would be interesting to see what a planner could achieve if they could direct council, instead of just (very patiently) putting up with their questions as head of Q&A.
• Nigel Kearns - Possibly one of the CBRM's top creative thinkers with an unrivalled passion for doing things better for the community, in more innovative ways. An expert in creating, managing, and understanding experiences. If elected, this candidate is the one that would make the CBRM a profoundly more interesting place to live, though he'd have to break through the bureaucracy to do so, which may have a level of difficulty similar to colonizing Mars. Although under the radar outside of his sizeable personal network, he's the intuitive Roger Brooks of the CBRM... if Roger Brooks was more creative. Give him a budget and the CBRM instantly becomes a better experience and interesting place to live.
• Mike Johnson - An influencer and political thinker who wants a better future for the CBRM and is playing an active part in helping to form the foundations for doing so while primarily operating under the radar.
• Jeff McNeil - Don't let the camouflage and hunter's orange fool you. This avid outdoorsman is the President of the Port Morien Wildlife Association and a keen observer of local and national politics. However, his focus is on getting things done for the community particularly in relation to his role with the PMWA. Some of his focuses are on creating awareness of the dangers of lead shot for wildlife and securing funding for a fishing location that is accessible to those with mobility issues or require a wheelchair. McNeil is active in social media, bold in his communications, and has suggested that he's contemplated a run for council or mayor. While his chances are stronger for the former, the network he's building through his community involvement shouldn't be underestimated. NEW
• Dan Christmas - The Senator won't offer, but he would be viable if he did. It's hard to forget his speech and the public reaction when he declared "Cape Breton is dying". People felt like they were being heard by someone with the credentials/authority/power to make an impact.
• Marie Walsh - She runs the CBRM. She's probably been one of the key influences in its operation for a very long time. Her intentions on removing the tax cap would make her support very polarized in a political campaign for mayor.
• Mary Campbell - It's hard to tear a journalist away from their passion, but wouldn't the CBRM's most hawkeyed political observer be a grand experiment? The CBRM would improve its strength in negotiations overnight, and there would probably be a new policy that councillors must read the agreements before approving them.
• Geoff MacLellan - Rumours circulated that the current Liberal MLA was interested in the mayoral role. He would have a lot of backing from loyal Liberal supporters. MacLellan has charisma. If he was to resign from the Liberal party within the next 3 months, declaring that the Premier is underfunding the CBRM, he'd have a strong chance of winning as a mayoral candidate. However, for as long as he and Momborquette stay on message with the Premier and Municipal Affairs, even their MLA positions are potentially at risk. The question is simply whether or not capital projects (including the BayPlex way-too-early rebuild) will be enough for non-astute voters to believe they're getting the job done.
• Parker Rudderham - One of the CBRM's most successful businessmen, he could have a campaign team established in 1 to 2 weeks and hit the ground running. His move as Chairman of Business Cape Breton to shut it down was a bold move and is a clear indication that he would rethink the approach to economic development.
• Dr. Maroun - A soft-spoken, but persistent advocate for Equalization Fairness. Dr. Maroun and his NSEF group are able to gain the support of thousands with their demands for more funding for the CBRM and other Nova Scotia municipalities underfunded despite the Federal Equalization windfall delivered to the province each year.
• Rob Calabrese - One of the CBRM's best personalities (on radio and off), he would likely be the first one to tell you that he would never run for mayor (and likely will tell you if you mention you saw his name on this list). However, he's a part of a power couple in the CBRM with his wife Erika Shea. Don't let his joking manner and charisma fool you. He's very smart, perhaps so smart he knows never to be political. As a mayoral figure, he would be one of the few people that might be able to eradicate the uncomfortable tension that pervades the CBRM Council. Much to the chagrin of serious political types, big personalities that keep everyone at ease can win. He recently left his radio role.
• Mark Inglis - One of the fastest rising young professionals in the CBRM. His role in communications with the Cape Breton Hospital Foundation means he is a key person in one of the organizations closest to the heart of all Cape Bretoners. He does a great job, comes from a business-oriented family, and has an image that is a great fit with a mayoral role.

• Darren MacDonald - Darren is an entrepreneur, ski instructor, and is the head of the Island Sandbox at CBU. A naturally charismatic people person, he's energetic and positive and highly enthusiastic about his work promoting entrepreneurship via technology and other startups. While he probably has never considered himself as a mayoral candidate, if it was something he decided to pursue, he has a very young and savvy network that could fundraise and put a solid campaign effort in place. NEW

• Chief Leroy Denny --- NEW
• Caleb Gibbons - Another Liberal MP candidate hopeful who was defeated by the Jaime Battiste campaign. With a family name that goes all the way to our political formations (self-governance and fighting to be allowed to do so), Gibbons has political aspirations. What's interesting is that despite growing up on a family farm operation, he went on to be a senior executive in International Finance. He may be the only one that understands our financial challenges on a macro level, and he was one of the only candidates of any party that was offering thoughtful, and progressive ideas. Unfortunately, the party nomination process is so disconnected from the general community, the rest of us don't get to really know the candidates in that format. What his next steps are, beyond his interests in developing an export business, are yet to be determined. Since the Federal election, Gibbons has kept a low profile. He may be unlikely to re-enter local politics.
• Jay McNeil - An entrepreneur and a community advocate, McNeil's key strength is that there may not be anyone else in the CBRM who can communicate as expressively as he does. He's friendly, and confident, and open. His topics in social media are some of the most engaging discussions I've observed. He offers true positivity without the phoniness. Despite the majority of his discussions being about overcoming things and moving forward with success, he's also not afraid of calling out things that are just plain wrong. People gravitate to him, and he's one of the only candidates who could rival or exceed the other expert communicators on this list with his distinct manner of expression.
• Wayne Miller - As the founder of Downtown Nutrition, Miller recently caused a stir when posting about his positive outlook for the CBRM, endorsing some of the current projects, and expanding upon them (including converting Centre 200 into a convention centre). The post immediately provoked comments from his network suggesting that he would make a great candidate for mayor. As a successful business owner who is expanding his brand here in the CBRM, people will gravitate to those who figure out how to be successful in an adverse economic environment. He's one to watch if he decides to become more politically vocal.

• Wayne MacKay - MacKay is one of the most active family, community, and outdoors people you're ever going to discover in the CBRM. He's predominantly positive but doesn't play it safe by avoiding discussion or raising a critical view of things that concern him in our community. A natural leader, he's one of the leading advocates for protecting the Baille Ard Nature Trail system. He and fellow concerned community members are taking a very professional, organized approach to challenging the municipality on their plans for flood mitigation that could disrupt the trail. NEW

• Kendra Coombes - One of the three new councillors who've risen to prominence by exerting influence from a minority position on Council. A certain political career is in her future. With Tammy Martin leaving her provincial NPD role, Coombes would make the obvious replacement candidate. However, as a new mother, the timing may be non-ideal for her family.
• Russ Green - One of the NSEF's best speakers who takes an increasingly active role in their lobbying efforts. Russ challenged for the MLA position in Sydney River - Mira - Louisbourg. Although he did not win, he used it as a platform to bring greater attention on the plight of Cape Bretoners and our economic situation.
• Cecil Clarke - Though declining in popularity, his loss in the PC leadership race made his mayoral role more attractive to him. He'll always be kept afloat by a base of long-time PC supporters. Because of how voters react to any sign of development, construction of the second berth will help people forget about other issues with his time as mayor up until that point. But his support is weakened and many others can beat him at this stage in his career. He said he would not run again, but now suggests that he might since his husband prefers him remaining in the role. Voters will have to judge whether the right reason to stay on the job because someone else wants him to, or he actually believes that he can achieve better outcomes than he did over eight years and he'll show more commitment to the role the next time. If he runs again, he'll be signing on for the most difficult campaign he's experienced in his career.
• Kirk MacRae - One of the CBRM's most prominent business persons, he was the former owner of local Subway franchises, selling those investments in 2017. CBC calls him an "avid fan of politics" and a "die-hard Progressive Conservative." In an interview with Steve Sutherland, he told Sutherland that a bucket list item for him is running for a political role. The general public wouldn't be as familiar with MacRae, but his resources, network, and political connections would ensure that he'd be able to run a fully operational campaign with everything in place. However, with Orrell and MacLeod losing in their Federal runs, the Conservative Party may be looking for viable alternative candidates for the next challenge versus the Trudeau government. NEW
• John Whalley - The Whalley versus CBRM lawsuit and the outstanding Cape Breton Spectator coverage pulled John Whalley back into the public eye. Formerly a key figure in our plans for economic development, he was ousted. As an advocate for increased Equalization, this could help him gain further support in our current political environment. He should have run as an MP candidate.
• Nicole LaFosse - A young corporate lawyer, and one of the engineers of Tim Houston's successful PC leadership bid. She has the image of a young mayor and commands authority. She would have a great deal of support in her network and would have no problem coordinating a campaign. As mayor, it would be interesting to see the collaboration between her and Houston, should he become Premier. One of his campaign pledges was giving the CBRM an additional $15 Million a year in increased Equalization transfer. While party insiders come with caveats, in the near term that move would be the most significant transition for the CBRM in a very long time. Our challenges are greatly exacerbated by insufficient resources and a tax base that is being bled dry. Now Houston's Chief of Staff, she's one of the province's top political strategists.
• Jodi McDavid - Intelligent and articulate, Jodi McDavid performed well in her bid as the NDP candidate for Sydney Victoria. While many academics may tend to prefer the safety of their tenure, now that McDavid has a campaign under her belt, she might decide that other opportunities - including a mayoral run - could be an option. NEW
• Steve Drake - Drake has an interesting bio. A current crown prosecutor in Sydney, he was previously an electrician's apprentice working in the mines in the late 70s. His intelligence isn't in doubt, and if you're looking for potential mayoral hopefuls, keep an eye on those who are actively writing about local political topics. Drake submits contributions to goCapeBreton.com, the Cape Breton Post, and the Cape Breton Spectator. For a man who transitions from the mines to the courtroom, from the courtroom to the mayor's seat isn't a career transition that anyone could definitively rule out. NEW
• Ian McNeil - A contributor to the Rankin MacSween campaign, as a journalist he knows the CBRM and its challenges. However, his eloquent speaking ability and statesmanly image make him appear to be the type of mayor people envision. Looking like a mayor or leadership figure is helpful. It benefitted Cecil Clarke. McNeil looks more like a leader, is more intelligent, and is an expert communicator. As Tim Houston demonstrated, Clarke will easily fall to a much better communicator. He's back in Cape Breton now.
• Mike Kelloway - Kelloway successfully became the Liberal MP. He works at community involvement and has a strong network, but may be reluctant to take a position on anything as his desire to have people like him may compromise his ability to be effective in a political role where sometimes involves taking a position where there isn't universal agreement. He obviously won't be running for mayor now. But his ranking has improved with his election victory should the option arise again in his future.
• Steve Sutherland - Host of CBC Radio's Information Morning program, Sutherland is one of Cape Breton's best journalists and is as sharp a political observer as you'll find, a requirement of his role. He's also CBC's goto expert moderator for political debates. Like Bergfeldt, leaving CBC is incredibly unlikely. However, if he ever were to do so, it would be difficult for any other candidate to out debate him. Sutherland has generated some criticism recently from Equalization and Cape Breton autonomy advocates alike, after giving what they felt was a bit of a softball interview to Premier Stephen MacNeil. That's a subject of debate, although I also had a concern during MLA roundtable interviews for the Sydney River - Mira - Louisbourg by-election in 2019. I felt that he had answered regarding the position of the Liberal Party, while Liberal Party candidate Marc Botte was sitting at the table and should have been the one to answer on behalf of himself and his party. Steve won't run, but he'd be viable.
• Archie MacKinnon - While Archie MacKinnon doesn't seem to fit the mold as a politician, he's been active in politics for much of his life. In his MP run for Sydney-Victoria, he gained national recognition for the third-largest vote total of all independents in the country. He almost certainly ensured that popular Conservative candidate Eddie Orrell was defeated by controversy-saddled Liberal Jaime Battiste. Although MacKinnon didn't win, he changed the outcome. His style is rough and loud and about as transparent as it gets. Via his Facebook page, he recently raised allegations of theft by one of his campaign volunteers and says he was confronted by Mayor Cecil Clarke's uncle outside of a Home Hardware store recently. These are just examples. There's no political book anywhere that will advocate this kind of communication approach by a political hopeful, but Archie has a populist following in a blue-collar municipality, and in his best moments it's hard to doubt his passion or sincerity about issues that affect the community, including child poverty. He wouldn't be ready for the mayor's seat in terms of the requirements of the role, but it's hard to imagine a council meeting where he wouldn't be bringing a key community challenge to our attention. Archie is a phenomenon that could win in some matchups, and spoil it for other candidates in many multi-candidate matchups. NEW
• Wendy Bergfeldt - Bergfeldt is, hands down, one of the most important assets Cape Breton is fortunate to have living and working here. To imagine her departing from the CBC is a bit of a thought experiment leap. However, there are very few people that possess her knowledge of everything that ticks in the CBRM, as well as her ability to dissect and understand complex matters in just seconds. There are also few on this list that can rival her in intelligence or class.
• Derek Mombourquette - This MLA had a scare in the last election and could be at risk. As a former CBRM councillor, the thought of mayor as a role would likely be an option, though when to make the transition would be a difficult decision. Mombourquette has been distributing provincial dollars throughout the community and building and/or solidifying his support, though the funds amount to less than what we would receive with the Tim Houston pledge of $15 Million more per year in the provincial Equalization transfer. He has been rapidly growing in confidence in his role as MLA and would be viable. He likes selfies too but takes fewer of them than fellow Liberal Kelloway, and intense opposition/criticism has forced him to get comfortable with the idea of taking a position on something. Mombourquette constantly reminds everyone of the capital investments the McNeil government is making. But what remains to be seen is whether that's enough for people to overlook that he fully supports not providing the CBRM any additional operating resources, which means our taxes stay high and our budget keeps getting cut. He and MacLellan would be political superstars if they actually increased our transfer significantly. It would take $50 Million to equalize our tax rates with the HRM.
• Rankin MacSween - Against a declining Clarke, the third match-up would likely result in a win for MacSween. The positive impact he has on the CBRM is underappreciated.
• Erika Shea - MacSween's protege is brilliant. If she could be torn away from the work she's doing at New Dawn, she would be viable. Her profile to the general public is lesser known than others. So a campaign would require initiating early and having the full support and campaign help from MacSween and her CBVoices colleagues.
• Annette Verschuren - It will always be difficult to convince someone who has long since established their success and legacy at the highest levels of society to take on another challenge. A similar example is David Dingwall taking on his role of President at CBU. Rumblings had suggested years ago that he might also be a mayoral candidate for the CBRM. Verschuren is an elite candidate with greater success and prestige in the business world. While she is a present contributor behind the scenes, her business expertise may be unrivalled here in the CBRM. The thought of someone with her level of success taking over economic development policy creation would be exciting. If she ever endeavoured to run, you could "bet on her" to become mayor.
• Eddie Orrell - Orrell lost in his bid for MP, so he's without a political home. Archie MacKinnon snuffed out his chances with a performance many did not anticipate. Orrell loses in most mayoral matchups. But he'd have a large enough base of support to convince himself that he had a shot. He may be a likeable MP who cares about people, but it would be difficult to articulate any advantages he'd offer as mayor. His bologna sandwich and lobster comment was offputting to many, but MacKinnon's vote tally did him in.
• Earlene MacMullin - The voice of the people, she conveys sincerity whether we agree with her or not on any particular matter. She communicates the image of a regular person who wanted to make a difference, stepped up to the plate, won an election, and isn't going to let slick politicians walk over her. On the rise. She almost secured the Liberal MP nomination. Had Jaime Battiste's team not bused in his First Nations supporters on voting day for the nomination with promises of awaiting food trucks, she would likely be in Ottawa right now as our MP.
• Mark Eyking - Eyking isn't a strong MP, but he's spent years delivering cheques to the region and has a likeable personality that keeps him on people's minds as an endearing local leader. He would be a terrible choice as a mayoral candidate, but we've made terrible choices before, repeatedly. Politicians that have been on the political stage for as long as he has a large base that always keeps them in the running, not to mention access to funding to run the campaign. These days, they seem to be spending around $200,000. NEW
• Chief Terry Paul - The growth of Membertou speaks volumes. As the people of the CBRM watch Membertou constantly progress while the rest of the municipality struggles, they wonder what it is that Chief Paul does differently. Capital plays a big part, but people yearn for the kind of growth throughout the CBRM like that observed in Membertou. For that reason, despite the near implausibility of Chief Paul ever pursuing the mayoral role, he would be a strong candidate. People like winners. They want to share in their success.
• Alfie MacLeod - Alfie's key ability is to speak with a style that makes people believe he's representing us in Halifax. And, indeed, his speeches resonate with people. His popularity could put him in the mayor's chair, especially with an outgoing Cecil Clarke throwing his support. His level of popularity makes him viable, even if it's unclear in what way he would be able to improve the CBRM. Failing as an MP gives him a reason to run for mayor.
• [ To Be Announced ]
• #4 John Morgan - Morgan was a popular mayor, and we're currently in a climate of increased public attention on Equalization fairness. While it remains to be seen what is left of Morgan's network, he only needs to put on a suit with a nicely pressed shirt and he's a front-runner on Day 1. The problem is that Morgan is no longer in the public eye, doesn't weigh in on political topics out in the open, and could return 6+ years later as a very different man. His support would not be as high as before since there are now some calls for something new. There are also some that believe that when he hit a wall with the fight for Equalization, it was all over. Rumours persist, however, that Morgan is interested in running again. Rumours of Morgan making a federal bid as either an independent or (gasp) a Liberal were quickly quelled. Until he steps forward nobody can determine if he has an actual political desire and can still pull support from his base. Insiders say YES to both. Morgan will wait too long before entering political discussions and it will seriously jeopardize his chances despite his overwhelming popularity in the past.
• #3 Adrian White - The former CEO of the Sydney & Area Chamber of Commerce, White has moved on but is actively writing Letters to the Editor in the Cape Breton Post. He's very smart and has a deep network. Should he decide to pursue a mayoral role, he would have a lot of backing and has the ability to build a solid campaign. On the rise. He's giving other would-be political figures a master class on how to take a position on something. You don't need to agree with him. That's not the point of taking a position.
• #2 Rodger Cuzner - Cuzner is the sharper of the two outgoing Liberal MPs. Whether he gives a satisfactory take on any particular issue or not, he's able to articulate his thoughts better (and braver) when put on the spot. His charisma is a huge asset. And while he would be a vastly superior mayor compared with the outgoing Cecil Clarke, it's always dangerous to support someone easing into the retirement with enough personal wealth to rob them of the kind of passion and drive needed to fight for a better future for the CBRM. But make no mistake, he's a viable candidate should he choose to pursue the role. His annual poem was a bit hit for its artistry and wit, but a big miss on the utilization of parliamentary time, and it's regretful that it's one of the first things we associate with the MP when his name comes up. Cuzner is highly unlikely to leverage his political capital for a mayoral role. But other candidates need to hope that he's not growing bored during his time off. He's viable and has a small army of partisan backers.
• #1 Amanda McDougall - A constant name mentioned for inspiring young leaders who could take on the mayoral role. She, along with Coombes and MacMullin, have proven that they can withstand the adverse environment within an ole boy council. However, entering their third year, it's time for them to start demonstrating leadership by pushing the agenda. Coombes showed early promise with Equalization, and they need to do more here. McDougall continues to grow in recognition and network. When she's on her game, she can inspire a sense of hopefulness. A big part of her brand is her ability to make people see that she cares. She could fulfill the leadership role, but she'll have to sharpen her chisel on policymaking. But she already has enough political leverage to beat Mayor Clarke in a head-to-head. Expect a repeat of the overconfidence of Councillor Saccary if that match up materializes. Some detractors greatly underestimate her, and when she finds out she's being underestimated, she's at her absolute best. She'll be difficult to beat if she decides to pursue the role and bring the change we need to the CBRM. She's been stifled as a councillor in a minority of progressives. However, she could do great things as mayor.

NOTE: The views expressed above are my own and do not represent lokol (goCapeBreton.com). Read more