Coun. Doucet to run for mayor

Ottawa City Coun. Clive Doucet will run for mayor of Ottawa in the upcoming municipal election. He made the announcement from the CorktownBridge mid-morning Tuesday.

One week after losing a bitter battle over the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park, Doucet is vowing to take City Hall back from developers.

"I'm not running to be the developers' go-to guy." said Doucet. "I will not run this city behind closed doors. If Ottawa chooses me for mayor, I will throw those doors wide open."

That will mean running without contributions from developers, often the most generous donors to mayoral campaigns.

"I will be raising my money for the campaign just as I have as a city councillor, in small donations from ordinary people. It will not be easy, but no mountain has ever been climbed without taking the first step. Today, I'm taking the first step." Doucet said.

He said he has no illusions about his chances, but he says he's not intimidated either.

"I'm in to win. That's the only reason I'd put myself, my family and my friends through this."

Some are already wondering whether Doucet's entry into the race could split the left-of-centre vote, and benefit Larry O'Brien, who announced last week he's seeking re-election and filed his papers Tuesday.

O'Brien streered clearof the issue: "[Whether you] like him or not, he's always very clear on his positions. He is a hard-working councillor, and he represents his ward well, and I wish him all the best in the upcoming campaign," O'Brien said.

Doucet becomes the 14th candidate to enter an increasingly crowded race.

Besides O'Brien and Doucet, the raceincludesformer mayor and MPP, Jim Watson, and veteran councillor Alex Cullen.

The other 10candidates are: Cesar Bello, Robin Lawrence, Mike Maguire, Stanley Pioro, Eric Romolok, Sean Ryan, Jane Scharf, Robert Taylor Larter, Charlie Taylor, and Samuel Wright.