 (incumbent)
Incumbent Harvey Smith, 70, is a self-professed
atypical councilor.
"I fight for people," he says. "If
administration makes unreasonable decisions affecting my constituents,
I challenge them."
Born in Vancouver but raised in Winnipeg,
Smith – who holds degrees in English and economics from
the University of British Columbia and a B.Ed from Simon Fraser – started
his career as a teacher.
A seasoned politician,
Smith joined the Social Credit party at age 12 and has been involved
with the NDP since the 1970s, including a position on the provincial
executive. Elected to city council in 1980, he retained his seat
for two terms.
In 1986, he was elected
as an MLA but was defeated in 1988.
Ten years later, he returned
to municipal politics as councilor for Daniel McIntyre and was
re-elected in 2002.
Throughout his career,
Smith has served on many boards and
committees. Presently, these
include Take Pride Winnipeg, the historical buildings committee
and others. A long-time advocate of the arts, he is a board member
of the Winnipeg Arts Council.
Urban
sprawl is Smith's
No. 1 concern. He opposes suburban developments such as Waverley
West.
"I
want to preserve what we have," he says. "The city
built a 50-room house but can only afford to maintain 25 rooms,
putting us in a tight position, affecting every issue."
Smith
is a staunch defender of public safety programs, rallying for
safer roads, additional police foot patrols and nametags on officers'
uniforms to increase accountability. He supports Operation Clean
Sweep and the panhandling initiative introduced by Mayor Sam
Katz.
Smith says he also wants
to see significant increases in the number of repairs done to
back lanes in the ward. Thirty-five per cent of city back lanes
requiring maintenance are within Daniel McIntyre, but the city
services only three blocks a year.
He says other critical
issues include affordable housing, maintaining urban green spaces
and improving transit.
Smith adds that he believes
too many councilors in the city instinctively follow the mayor's
agenda rather than those of their constituents.
"We
need someone who stands up for the ward, not another voice for
the mayor," he says, but adds the mayor deserves respect. "I
don't go for his throat. I can dialogue with him even if I disagree."
Smith
has been endorsed by the NDP, the Winnipeg Labour Council and
the United Firefighters of Winnipeg.
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