Page 25 - 08_Oct-2025

THE OCTOBER 20 ELECTION feels like a
turning point. Cost-of-living pressures are biting,
poverty rates are high, and while the overall
crime rate has dropped to its lowest in more
than a decade, violent crime has risen sharply.
Meanwhile, years of progress on homelessness
and overdoses were undone by the pandemic,
a shift that the City has thus far been unable to
temper, leading to historically high numbers and
some of the worst per capita rates in Canada.
Frustration is also mounting over uncoord-
inated construction that makes traffic intolerable,
compounded by rapid growth as Edmonton
hurdles toward two million people.
Against this backdrop, voters’ priorities have
shifted. While past campaigns leaned into big-
city building, the mood in this election is all about
going “back to basics” — property-tax freezes
and spending restraint, as well as core services
like renewed focus on road maintenance,
snow clearing and policing. And for good
reason: despite an unpopular tax hike this year,
Edmonton’s debt limits are nearly maxed out.
This is also a historic election under Alberta’s
Bill 20, which opened the door to big-money
donations and party affiliations on the ballot,
raising concerns over corporate and partisan
influence.
THE FRONTRUNNERS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
So who would want to deal with such a
headache? As it turns out: many would.
Too many, in fact, to interview them all.
That was the intent when this project began
in May, but by mid-summer the number of
candidates made it impossible. Instead, we
focused on six leading contenders, guided
by a late-August Leger poll on awareness and
voter intent. For a fuller picture, we encourage
you to learn about the other candidates,
which, as of September 1 include business
consultant Vanessa Denman; lawyer Ronald S.
Billingsley, Jr.; civil engineer Malik Chukwudi;
health-care administrator Olney Tugwell; activist
Andrzej Gudanowski; and policy advisor Paul
Bakhmut. A complete list is available on the City
of Edmonton’s 2025 Election site.
On the pages ahead, you’ll find concise, policy-
driven conversations with the six front-runners,
who weren't provided any questions in advance
before meeting with Editor-in-Chief Omar
Mouallem. Each one-hour conversation was
edited for brevity and clarity, then independently
fact-checked for accuracy and context of the
transcript, as well as the veracity of their claims.
What remains are candid exchanges that cut
through talking points and reveal how these
contenders hope to lead Edmonton.
ANDREW
KNACK
TIM
CARTMELL
TONY
CATERINA
MICHAEL
WALTERS
OMAR
MOHAMMAD
RAHIM
JAFFER
PARTY
Independent
EXPERIENCE
Three-term city
councillor since
2013; community
organizer
THE PLEDGE
Focus on
affordability,
smarter growth
and core services
(including LRT),
while pressing
the province to
improve poverty
and addicitions —
or properly fund
municipalities to
do it themselves.
PARTY
Better Edmonton
EXPERIENCE
Two-term city
councillor since
2017; engineer and
business owner
THE PLEDGE
Fiscal restraint,
core services
over big projects,
bus rapid transit
over LRT and
stricter boundaries
between city and
province. Spend
on items helping
the most people
instead of trying to
please everyone.
PARTY
Independent
EXPERIENCE
Four-term
city councillor
(2007–2021); small
business owner
THE PLEDGE
Kill rezoning
bylaw 20001,
refocus city hall
on core municipal
services and stop
downloading
provincial
responsibilities
onto taxpayers.
Lead council
with a blunt, no-
nonsense style.
PARTY
Independent
EXPERIENCE
Two-term city
councillor
(2013–2021),
non-profit leader,
communications
strategist
THE PLEDGE
Address poverty
and addictions
with prevention
and nonpartisan
collaboration,
while speeding
up construction,
revitalizing main
streets and fostering
a vibrant city.
PARTY
Independent
EXPERIENCE
Pediatric
dental surgeon,
international
development
THE PLEDGE
Shift investment
from infrastructure
to people by
prioritizing
social services,
safety and
affordable housing
— especially
downtown, where
density is needed
to reactivate
businesses.
PARTY
Independent
EXPERIENCE
Four-term
Member of
Parliament;
small-business
owner
THE PLEDGE
Prioritize
businesses
by cutting red
tape, freezing
taxes and
fostering inter-
governmental
partnerships
to improve
economy and
safety.
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