Ed Holder’s Candidacy Definitely Thickens The Plot

The 2018 Mayoral race in London got a little more crowded yesterday, when Ed Holder declared his candidacy. A packed house were on hand at Innovation Works to hear the announcement.

Rumours had been circulating for weeks that the veteran politician might jump into the race, but he made it official yesterday.

“Today I am pleased and honoured to announce my candidacy for Mayor of the City of London,” Holder said.

Holder served two terms representing the electoral district of London West, and served as appointed Minister of State (Science and Technology).

He said that his reasons for running for mayor were two-fold; because hard work and community service had been instilled in him by core family values, and because he felt that he had the experience to bring Londoners together, get things “unstuck”, and keep London moving in the direction of its vision.

It didn’t take him long to make an immediate splash, when he categorically stated, “I do not support the current BTR plan.”

His concerns were expressed quite transparently – half a billion dollars, 10 years of traffic headaches, and not truly meeting the City Plan’s vision.

“While the rest of the world is exploring clean energy and self-driving vehicles that open up unlimited mobility options for everyone, we’d end up, in 10 years, with fixed technology with limited flexibility, to adapt to the future needs of our city.”

Holder did preface his statement by saying that he is “fully committed to the City Plan’s vision of an exciting, exceptional, and connected London,” and would embrace bold infrastructure investments.

“Can we find common ground with those who support BRT? I’d like to think so and I am committed to meet and listen to those supporters before I finalize my platform at the end of the summer.”

Holder stated that in “keeping with his style of collaboration” that he would be taking the next few months to talk to interest groups and Londoners, before finalizing his election platform on all the issues, like transportation, jobs and poverty, but that they would be available to voters well before advanced polls.

His campaign website www.holderformayor.com will be launched Tuesday, July 17th.

He enters a Mayoral race that now has fourteen candidates. He enters that race as a long-time Progressive Conservative in a city that was just painted NDP orange in the provincial election; but Holder said that he was proud of having been able to work across parties and for a greater cause, and didn’t see it as an issue.

“I think it’s the ability to reach across the aisle, we did that in the House of Commons, but literally to make sure that Council works not only with the same voice, but certainly with the same vision.”

When asked if by declaring his candidacy, he was immediately the front-runner, Holder quickly quipped that he had just declared five minutes ago, and that he would leave that up to the pollsters.

“All I can tell you is that people have been exceptionally responsive to my candidacy, and that I’m excited by how passionate they are in communicating that.”

No matter how he downplays it, Holder’s candidacy definitely brings an element of experience and leadership, that won’t go unnoticed by London voters. Even if his experience is not at the municipal level, it bears mention, and it’s unlikely to be over-looked given the current lack of experience throughout the race.

If anything, his affable, personal nature lends itself more to municipal level politics.

After all, one of the most important hats that London needs the Mayor to wear, is that of this city’s top cheerleader.

Ed Holder can definitely wear that hat.

Is he the front-runner?

That’s a personal decision that London will get to make in the fall, but it’s undeniable that he is a serious contender, and that the 2018 Mayoral race just got a lot more interesting.