The worst-kept secret in Barrie politics is secret no more.
Mike McCann is running for mayor in this year’s municipal election.
The two-time Ward 10 councillor filed his nomination papers today at 11:01 a.m.
When contacted by BarrieToday for comment, McCann said he will be making a formal announcement today at 2:10 p.m., in Heritage Park, near the landmark sign.
McCann joins Alex Nuttall, Rob Haverson, Gerry Marshall, and Barry Ward in the race to replace Jeff Lehman, who ran in the June 2 provincial election and has said he will not seek a fourth term as Barrie mayor.
McCann has been a controversial figure since first elected to Barrie city council in 2014, but more so in recent years.
In December 2020, he pleaded guilty to careless driving after impaired driving charges were withdrawn, relating to a September 2020 crash involving a vehicle and a hydro pole near Yonge Street and Cox Mill Road in the city's south end.
Last year, he persuaded city councillors to support his Love Barrie landmark sign, to go in Heritage Park, but only after McCann agreed to raise the $200,000 cost himself, which he accomplished. There was public backlash about spending that much money on a promotion during a pandemic, but McCann brushed it aside.
Just last November, McCann apologized publicly to Lehman for his comments about how the mayor handled small businesses reopening during the pandemic — after Lehman called the Ward 10 councillor out on the matter.
And McCann’s absence was noted from debate and decisions about a workplace harassment investigation involving a city employee and an unnamed councillor, which led to a settlement with the worker.
That employee filed a statement of claim against McCann, and he has since filed a statement of defence.
McCann has also had his victories.
His ‘Love Barrie’ contest has been a hit right across the city after originating as a just Ward 10 event. The contest accepts entries from students in kindergarten to Grade 12 about what’s special about Barrie, by sharing artwork, a short story or a photo.
Nominations for the city election close Aug. 19 for Barrie’s municipal election, which will be held Oct 24. to elect the 2022-26 council and school board trustees.
