A city councillor who had said she wasn't going to seek re-election this fall is now running for mayor and offering "leadership done differently."
Tanya Park officially announced her intention to run for mayor while surrounded by supporters at the London Food Incubator at 630 Dundas St. on Friday.
The first term, Ward 13 councillor said she was going public now to put rumours to rest about her intentions to seek the city's top job. She also reassured the public that she would not be campaigning until her nomination papers can be filed on May 1. It is against the Municipal Elections Act to campaign before that date.
Earlier this year, Park made a failed bid to get the provincial NDP nomination in London North Centre. Prior to that, she had announced she would not run for her council seat this fall, saying she had accomplished all she wanted to within her downtown ward.
"Throughout my term on council, I have done a lot. I completed all of the things that I wanted to do for the ward and I know through all of the work that I have done and all of the opportunities that I've seen before this city, I can do more," said Park. "I can start those pivotal conservations because if we continue to do the same things that we have done for our local economy we are not going to get anywhere."
Park's decision to run for mayor was not tied to the news last week that current Mayor Matt Brown would not be seeking re-election, she said. Instead, she says it came last month as complaints of widespread workplace harassment and bullying engulfed city hall.
"When the controversy was happening at city hall and there was a lack of leadership with regard to the harassment situation that was going on, I took the bull by the horns and that is when my decision was made," said Park.
She is the only potential mayoral candidate who supports the city's $500-million bus rapid transit plan.
Three other Londoners have signalled their intention to run for mayor -- former Police Services Board chair Paul Paolatto, businessman Paul Cheng, and former councillor Stephen Orser.
The municipal election is slated for October 22.
