Winnipeg Sun
Thursday, August 5, 2004
By ROSS ROMANIUK
First mayor, then premier? Speculation is rising about Sam Katz's political ambitions as his City Hall office becomes a brighter shade of Tory blue.
As his mayoral staff takes on an increasing number of provincial Conservative policy analysts and aides, Tory sources are speculating that the Winnipeg Goldeyes president has a bigger game in mind than the one he's playing for the next two years until the next municipal election.
After former Conservative premier Gary Filmon showed up yesterday at City Hall's administration building, that whispering became louder -- particularly in light of a PC meeting next November that could bring a call for a party leadership review.
Nearly no one expects Leader Stuart Murray to be pulled from his position at the party's helm this fall. And a source in Katz's office says talk of the mayor vying to become the next Tory leader "has as much credibility as Katz becoming the next starting quarterback of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers."
If that's the case, Conservative staff might want to test Sam's arm and accuracy. Because after Filmon's coffee visit, some among them seem to think Katz can throw.
"I think Filmon might be advising Sam in case he wants to take a run at Stu down the road," one Tory source said, pointing to Katz's possible options after his current term winds up in 2006.
"And why not? He'd have the team in place if he pulls the pin in a couple of years. He's got the remainder of this term to build a profile and grease a team."
It's true that Katz's office roster reads like a who's-who of Conservative backroom advisors.
Ryan Craig, chief of staff, worked in the administrations of Filmon and former Ontario Tory premier Mike Harris.
Mayoral aides and analysts in Katz's cabinet advisory office such as Greg Burch, Colin Fast and Sherwood Armbruster have solid PC backgrounds.
Hugh McFadyen, a lawyer now on contract with the cabinet team, is a former senior adviser to Filmon.
But those close to Katz point out that he's holding ongoing meetings with Premier Gary Doer and Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, not to mention Murray himself.
So any chat over coffee between Filmon and perhaps Craig and McFadyen, they claim, was just that and nothing else.
Murray is surprised at the speculation, and told The Sun he met Katz for a "very constructive" talk this week.
The speculation, he added, could go anywhere.
"I don't know," Murray suggested, "maybe Gary Doer wants to run for mayor. Who knows?"
Murray also stressed that Filmon has been "a good adviser" since the former premier stepped down in 2000.
After media pundits have repeatedly inquired about the motives, backgrounds and genders of Katz's office help in recent weeks, those staffers have understandably become a little exasperated.
The provincial leadership suggestion, it appears, has pushed the guessing too far.
"Filmon was here for coffee so that translates into something more?" a source in the mayor's office asked, insisting the Tory experience means little.
"We're leaving it all behind. Membership, gone. Activities, gone. We're not in here to be Tories, or many city councillors would never work with our boss who we need to get re-elected -- or we're all unemployed. This isn't a party politics situation."
Katz and his staff are learning the ropes of a municipal environment where talk is cheap and rumours come easily.
They might as well get used to it, because the speculation likely won't go away.
Filmon couldn't be reached for word on his visit to City Hall, though a business community source says he was there to offer "political advice," and not just friendly banter.
"And it's interesting that he was in the secretariat boardroom," the source said.
"There's definitely a connect-the-dots thing going on," a Tory source added. "Why is every one of his staff a Conservative card-carrying former employee?"
Until Katz brings in a few more Liberals or New Democrats, he might hear that question far more than he wants.