Andrea Horwath endorses Fred Eisenberger in Hamilton's mayoral race

Ontario's NDPleader has taken the unusual step of endorsing a candidate in Hamilton's mayoral race infavour of incumbent Fred Eisenberger.

Andrea Horwathannounced her support for Eisenbergernear city hall Friday morning. It's her first time as party leader getting involved in a municipal election, she said. But "that's how important I think this election is."

"There is a lot on the line for Hamilton in Monday's municipal election. Too much is at stake for Hamilton Centre families, and for the hometown I love, for me to stay on the sidelines. That's why I am wholeheartedly endorsing Fred Eisenberger for mayor."

Horwath, a Hamilton Centre NDPMPP, has long supported light rail transit (LRT) in Hamilton, which Eisenberger also supports. Eisenberger's competitor, Vito Sgro, is running on a "stop the train" platform.

Horwath says Hamilton is also at a critical juncture when it comes to issues like jobs and keeping housing affordable. "We need an experienced hand at the helm."

Horwath is the latest politician to wade into the race in a week of flying endorsements.

Bob Bratina, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Liberal MP, has endorsed Sgro, who is a long-time Liberal campaign organizer. Bratina has long opposed LRT.

"I've known Vito Sgro for more than 20 years," Bratina said in a statement. "His success in private business, his extensive knowledge of the political process at all three levels and his passion for Hamilton makes him the best candidate."

Three sitting councillors who oppose LRTendorsed Sgro this week JudiPartridge, Terry Whitehead and Robert Pasuta have also endorsed Sgro. Partridge is running again in Ward 15 in Flamborough. Whitehead is running in the newly drawn Ward 14. Pasuta isn't running again.

Eisenbergerhas endorsementsfrom NDPMPs Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain) and David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre),former mayors Larry DiIanni and Bob Wade,former Flamboroughmayor Don Granger,former MPPTed McMeekin(Liberal) andformer MP John Bryden(Liberal), as well as several unions.

"Tomorrowwe'll release another series of great supporters not only for my vision for the City of Hamilton, but for LRT," he said Friday. "They can't possibly all be wrong.

'Out of touch with voters'

"So my question is who do you trust? All these great organizations and great leaders in our community, or an individual who has one note, one issue, and is doing transit planning on the back of a napkin?"

Sgro dismissed Horwath'ssupport for Eisenberger Friday.

"Fred is out of touch with the voters," he said in a statement."I am not surprised he's dragging his politician buddies out to rattle the chains for him.

"This election is about the voters and not his collection of LRT pushing politicians."

Peter Graefe, a McMaster University political scientist, says Horwath wading in isn't particularly out of line. Premier Doug Ford's recent municipal government interventions he reduced the size of Toronto city council and cancelled regional chair races has "moved the goalposts."

Not a surprise

Endorsements "make a difference when they're unexpected, or for someone who hasn't stood out from the pack," he said.

"I don't think anyone who's been following local politics would be surprised that Andrea Horwath is endorsing Fred Eisenberger over Vito Sgro."

As for LRT, the previous Liberal government committed $1 billion for Metrolinxto build an LRT system from McMaster University to EastgateSquare as part of an eventual city-wide rapid transit network.

The new PC government says Hamilton can use that$1 billion for approved transit and/or infrastructure projects.

Metrolinx is about two years and more than $100 million into Hamilton's LRT project, but council has yet to approve a legally binding master agreement.