Fixing #ottawa: @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social teeing up transit refunds as election issue with traction for @jleiper.bsky.social Will Leiper seize moment at Council against Mayor on Feb. 11? Watch @timtierney.ca on debate. @arieltroster.com ottawasun.com/news/refunds...

#ottawa votes: (a) Lawson pollster Quito Maggi confident (b) @jleiper.bsky.social wants policy debate (c) Sutcliffe team confident (d) @neilsara.bsky.social wants 1000 (e) What does @timtierney.ca want? @kengray20.bsky.social 1,000 People Can Take Back Ottawa open.substack.com/pub/the613/p...

#ottawa votes 2026: @neilsara.bsky.social will get 1,000 people to support. We now have 4-way mayoral race. @jleiper.bsky.social campaign must adjust. @timtierney.ca ? @alexcullen.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Compensating commuters directly for public transit failures is innovative. It's good policy and good politics in election year if City solves transit problem. @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social

@kengray20.bsky.social gets at heart of @jleiper.bsky.social versus Mayor & Lawson: "Sutcliffe has lots of money and, accordingly, lots of signs. Leiper will have some money & many volunteers." @seandevine9.bsky.social Alexander Lawson Has An Outside Chance To Win bulldogottawa.com/alexander-la...

People thinking that comparing 2026 to 2006 3-way mayoral race is off the mark. Watch Lawson's early moves & also what @timtierney.ca does. @seandevine9.bsky.social . From Larry O’Brien to Alexander Lawson: Will This Become Ottawa’s Favourite Mayoral Plot Twist? open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

1/5 #ottawa votes '26: Mayor Lawson? @jleiper.bsky.social supporters welcome contender. New equation for Sutcliffe. @seandevine9.bsky.social @jchianello.bsky.social From Larry O’Brien to Alexander Lawson: Will This Become Ottawa’s Favourite Mayoral Plot Twist? open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

Wow. We're at stage of @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social featuring daughter in skating video. He's proud Dad. But his videos stray obviously across line in election year that I admire his chutzpah. Can't see @jleiper.bsky.social doing this. @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social #ottawa

#Ottawa votes 2026: @jleiper.bsky.social happy that Alex Lawson in mayoral race: A) adds to 'battle of ideas' B) Leiper's battle less uphill C) Sutcliffe checks right flank @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Transit will show up in polling as major in 2026 election. This will be conversation-starter when candidates hit the doors. Aspiring challengers need to talk about it now. @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social

Ottawa Votes: Mayor has large early lead, per Crerar. BUT, as I will argue in Substack/CityofOttawaPolitics, the ground game will determine winner. @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social The Runner Versus The Cyclist: CRERAR bulldogottawa.com/the-runner-v...

@kengray20.bsky.social has point. #ottcity should stop trying to socially engineer ppl to spend $ in downtown. A privately financed Senators arena district will do trick. @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com #ottawa Council ‘Made Too Many Wrong Mistakes’ bulldogottawa.com/council-made...

This is long overdue. @clarkekelly.bsky.social

@seandevine9.bsky.social That Mayor's Office feels no need to delete the post provides a window into their political coms thinking. It simply doesn't matter politically if it raises eyebrows on Council, in media, or in public. @alexcullen.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

Kudo's to Citizen's Bruce Deachman for his column on @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social leveraging what is obviously dubious data to promote #ottawa. See my take on why the Mayor is doing this. @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social substack.com/profile/1542...

@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social boasts about "data" from Serbian website ranking #Ottawa #1 livable city. A. Sutcliffe, a former journalist, didn't check the source. B. The Mayor's office hasn't removed post. @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...

#Ottawa Council 2026 will very similar to 2022 Council. Incumbency is king — almost all Members (20 + Mayor) who run again will win. Maybe 2 real open races. Marty Carr? But here are changes... @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Challenging a sitting Mayor is daunting. @jleiper.bsky.social is opening up a line of political attack on state of transit in #ottawa. He's been pulling his political punches, so far. The Mayor hasn't. @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social

Yesterday's memo on bus cancellations asserts hundreds of millions in new spending that at the end of the day has little to do with cancelled buses. Let's separate the spin from the solutions.

1/3 Asking @jleiper.bsky.social if he’s “in it to win it” misses the point. The dangerous underdog isn’t the one who declares victory... @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @catherinekitts.bsky.social @clarkekelly.bsky.social #ottawa cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/political-...

#OttawaVotes2026 Action trumps political branding. Slogans mostly thrill the already-converted. Council members & challengers will find out that slogans by themselves won’t (re)elect them. @jleiper.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...

1/2 Election 2026--thought experiment. I’ve taken @jleiper.bsky.social New Year’s Statement & rewritten it in voice of #zohranmamdani. Same ideas & words but different rhythm. Not Leiper’s style, you say? Ok, I get that. but.. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com

1/5 @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social closed out year with cozy Q-and-A in @ottawacitizen.com A reminder of incumbency power. My thoughts on what this means for @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/news/sutclif...

@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social "Mayor's update” newsletter looks like glossy election poster — SAFE, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE. Mayor is "Council Member of 2025" @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social #ottawa cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/ottawa-cou...

#ottawa election 2026: The Bulldog asks a fair question that will soon be answered. @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @rawlson.bsky.social Where’s Jeff Leiper? bulldogottawa.com/wheres-jeff-...

Ottawa Councilors will be re-elected on 2 conditions: no policy mess or personal scandal sticking to them. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @arieltroster.com Ottawa Council Year-in-Review: Looking Back and Looking Forward open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

1/6 Expect family reunion at Council after '26 election No major change until 2030 but surprises. See Year-in-Review. @jchianello.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/ottawa-cou...

#Ottawa City Council won't change much after 2026 election. @shawnmenard.bsky.social team door-knocked me. Asked me what's on my mind. Dropped well designed brochure. All Councilors doing same. Most if not all will be re-elected @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com

1/2 @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social had Good Messaging Week on Budget & 🏠 BetterOttawa MUNI Panel says Mayor's coms is working: 'balanced' approach, 'support from across ideology & geography'. Panel gives coms advice to @jleiper.bsky.social @jchianello.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social

1/5 There may be real contest in #Osgoode ward in 2026 election if there are 3 main contenders: Colette Lacroix-Velthuis, Doug Thompson, Isabelle Skalski. See my political profile of the ward. @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/an-uncerta...

1/3 Can you tell difference between Mayor's electoral campaign messages & genuine public information? Ask yourself: "Is he providing me with useful new information in his videos or is he patting himself on the back?" @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

@shawnmenard.bsky.social It's ok, get emotional. You've done a superb job on this file and deserve full credit. #ottawa #ottpoli

#ottcity Budget will be approved tomorrow by perennially divided Council. Even @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social doesn't believe in the myth of Team Ottawa at Council. Budget will be plank in Mayor's election campaign. @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

See @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social post on X below. His core election campaign messaging: *Affordability *Safety * Reliability @jleiper.bsky.social must show strong contrast in his affordability/safety messaging. @jchianello.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com #ottawa

@seandevine9.bsky.social I'd have to interrogate chatgpt to answer that. It has a mind of its own, as you know. But your gloves are off now. @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social has crossed a line I didn't think he'd cross: exaggerated claims, misinformation--exactly what he accuses you & others of.

This weekend's op-ed by @timtierney.ca kicks off what's obvious. The political gloves off at #ottawa Council. Here are imperfect renderings of @seandevine9.bsky.social and @arieltroster.com @jleiper.bsky.social cannot be a bystander. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social

How will @jleiper.bsky.social respond to a national rebuke of @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social & 14 members of #ottcity Council? So far, Leiper has opted to avoid using charged language in his opposition to Lansdowne 2.0 & Budget. Will this change? @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social

1/5 #Lansdowne 2.0 goes national. When @theglobeandmail.com writes editorial takedown of @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social & 14 Councilors about their “Hail Mary” financing plan, it’s warning to all. @jchianello.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

Dynamic duo challenging @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social on his draft Budget. Let's include @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social "We need a city that works for YOU." Goo slogan. @jleiper.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @neilsara.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...

@david--p.bsky.social it may be. It was based on a reasonable guess that @jchianello.bsky.social would likely run

1/8 11 Lessons for @jleiper.bsky.social from Zohran Mamdani's campaign. #ottawa @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social @clarkekelly.bsky.social @catherinekitts.bsky.social cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/what-jeff-...

1/2 Osgoode Landfill: great deep-dive reporting by CBC's Kate Porter. Important to know who is lobbying whom on this file. Jennifer Stewart from Syntax approached @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social office. She is? @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social posting very campaign-like videos on X in which delivers 'low tax' message. His team says this gets him a second term. @neilsara.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

1/5 As #Ottawa activist groups mobilize to change Council, I highlight PR lessons from Lansdowne 2.0. @kengray20.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social PR Lessons of Lansdowne 2.0 for Ottawa’s Activist Civil Society open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...

Canadian electoral campaigns can copy Mamdani campaign but, in the end, most campaign managers will opt for the safe conventional. @jleiper.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social Zohran Mamdani's campaign proved that design can win the ground game, and an election open.substack.com/pub/ericblai...

And the #Lansdowne winners are.... See analysis of what this means for mayoral campaigns @jleiper.bsky.social and @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @stephanieplante.bsky.social @arieltroster.com cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/and-the-la...

What do these two individuals have in common? One has just won; the other is about to win. Mamdani Lessons for @jleiper.bsky.social * free buses *universal city childcare *90,000 volunteers * 3M doors knocked @neilsara.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social

1/2 Great turnout at last night’s @BetterOttawa #Lansdowne event in #Barrhaven. Turns out #ottawas suburbs do care about Lansdowne. My view @shawnmenard.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...

How @jleiper.bsky.social handles #Lansdowne in next 8 days shows if he’s ready to be mayor. As #ottcity Council’s Opposition Leader, all eyes on how he answers Sutcliffe’s turn to negative campaigning. @seandevine9.bsky.social @timabray.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social

Why is @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social , who has the votes to approve #lansdowne 2.0, accusing community groups, members of Council & experts of spreading 'misinformation'? This seems very off-brand. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social